Summer vacation may be coming to an end for students with the start of the new school year this Wednesday, but summer itself is holding on.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Lacrosse says an extended period of hot weather is expected through this Thursday, with the hottest period Tuesday through Wednesday. Afternoon heat index values will reach the 95 to 105 range for parts of the area into Monday, becoming area-wide Tuesday through Thursday, with heat indices reaching 110 to 115 in spots.
An excessive heat warning is in effect from noon Monday to 8 pm Thursday for Floyd and Mitchell counties. An excessive heat warning will be in effect from noon Monday to 9 pm Wednesday for Butler, Bremer, Franklin, Cerro Gordo and Worth counties.
Chickasaw and Howard counties have a heat advisory from noon Monday to 11 am Tuesday followed by an excessive heat watch til Thursday evening, along with Fayette, Winnsehiek and Allamakee counties.
At Charles City High School, where classrooms do not have A/C, Superintendent Anne Lundquist says officials will monitor the heat index in the building to determine any early dismissals for students due to the heat.
The school district looks to avoid that in the future. The building’s HVAC system is one of the basic needs that would be addressed if voters approve a $28.5 million bond referendum this November.
At New Hampton, Superintendent Jay Jurrens says all of their classrooms have AC, but early-outs are already built into the schedule for the first three days of school. Jurrens is also the Superintendent for Turkey Valley Schools, where it’s mostly unairconditioned, but they also have early-outs already scheduled for Wednesday through Friday.
