ILLINOIS (RFD) — It took a while for much of Illinois to thaw out from last winter’s deep freeze, but we’re now into the “dog days” of summer. Air temperatures will be in the mid to upper 90’s from now through Saturday throughout most of the state says DTN chief agriculture meteorologist Bryce Anderson.

Our listening area will be under an Excessive Heat Watch during the entirety of the rising air temperatures. This means that the combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are possible. As for what impact this heat wave will have on the Illinois corn and soybean crop, Anderson says it’s a tough question to answer.

Heat index values could reach anywhere from 105 to 110 degrees with some areas seeing 115.