Tom Ackerman

High pressure is keeping the Commonwealth firmly in the sweaty grasp of a summer heat wave. Highs will soar to the mid 90s again Wednesday.

Springfield State Journal-Register The U.S. House passed a legislative package that would establish a national age verification requirement for porn websites.

The Commonwealth continues to swelter as our summer heat wave stays locked in. Expect near record highs in the mid 90s Thursday with the heat index topping out in the 100° to 110° range. An extreme heat warning remains in effect until Friday evening. We're still hot and steamy Friday with highs in the low 90s but watch for a few late day showers and storms. Independence day looks quiet, hot and muggy as usual. The heat dome finally slides farther east and starts to lose control early next week with more typical July weather inbound. Highs in the 80s and a daily chance for scattered showers and storms.

Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal-Register Despite the number of fireworks that are illegal in Illinois, plenty of people still shoot them off around the Fourth of July holiday.

Extreme heat and humidity is expected for Independence Day in central Illinois.

The upper-level ridge that's kept the heat wave cranking slowly tracks east and starts to lose influence into your Independence Day weekend. This will do a couple of things; first, the stifling heat will gradually start to back off. Second, it'll allow the development of showers and storms. Friday won't change much; we're still very hot and steamy with highs in the mid 90s and the heat index maxing out around 100° to 110°. The extreme heat warning is in effect for one more day. Watch for isolated afternoon showers and storms Friday with a few possible Saturday and scattered showers and storms to wrap up the weekend. We'll need to watch for storms that produce gusty wind and locally heavy rain. With increasing cloud cover and the waning influence of that high, the heat will slowly back off with highs in the low 90s Saturday (a heat advisory is likely) and around 90° Sunday. Next week looks more typical for this time of the year with a daily chance for scattered showers and storms and highs in the mid to upper 80s.

After a weekend of seemingly never-ending round of showers, storms, heavy rain and localized flooding, the pattern finally flips to start the work week. Clouds break Monday with highs in the mid 80s. There is a chance for isolated showers lingering across southeastern counties, but most will stay dry. The heat slowly builds through midweek as high pressure takes control. Expect mostly sunny skies and highs in the upper 80s Tuesday and around 90° Wednesday.

TOM ACKERMAN Springfield State Journal-Register The number of human cases of tickborne disease in Illinois saw "dramatic growth" between 2004 and 2022, according to University of Illinois researchers.

On average, the annual number of human cases increased by 23 cases every year.

It's time to put on some sunscreen and hit the pool! High pressure takes over Tuesday and we have straight-up hot, muggy, mostly sunny and summery weather inbound through midweek.