"An oppressive and potentially deadly summertime mix of sizzling temperatures and high humidity baked a large swath of the country again on Sunday, pushing afternoon heat indexes in dozens of cities to dangerous levels.

Forecasters warned the heatwave would persist through much of the coming week and cautioned residents in more than three dozen states to take extra precautions.

The National Weather Service posted excessive heat warnings for much of the country's midsection, including Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, as well as South and North Dakota, where forecasters predicted heat indexes could hit 115 degrees.

'This will likely be the most significant heat wave the region has experienced in at least the last five years,' the weather service said."

James B. Kelleher reports for Reuters July 18, 2011. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"South Plains Corn Producers Looking at Abandoning Acres" (Plainview Herald)
[3]
"With Many Hot Days To Come, Suspected Heat Deaths Hit Nine" (Kansas City Star)
[4]
"Farmers Concerned Over Heat Wave's Effect on  Crops" (WREX 13 Rockford) [5]