Hot weather scorches Iowa again

Forecasts call for intense heat this afternoon and it’s forcing dozens of schools in central and southern Iowa to send students home early. One meteorologist says it’ll be hottest in Iowa’s lowest three tiers of counties, basically south of Interstate 80.Shane Searcy at the National Weather Service office in Johnston, says the heat index is also something to watch today. He says that figure, which is derived from a combination of the air temperature and the humidity, will likely hit triple-digits in some areas.Searcy says there may be one odd thing today — the areas with the highest temperatures may not see the highest heat indices. He says that’s due to some dry air in the state.The forecast calls for highs in the 90s the next couple of days with a slight cool-down Sunday and Monday and a chance of showers.