Wave goodbye to chill, hello to heat
Staff writer
The weather service defines a heat wave as a period of abnormally hot weather that generally lasts more than two days.
By that definition, Marion County definitely is in a heat wave.
High temperatures are expected to be 20 degrees above normal through Thursday. It was an abrupt change from the cool, wet weather that preceded it.
Cattle were seeking shade if it was available, and people were running their air conditioners.
Rex Savage of Florence was checking his cattle late Tuesday morning. He said they were gathered around a windmill and drinking cold water. He expected them to be standing in a pond by afternoon.
Eugene Just of Marion said his cattle still were out in the open Tuesday morning, enjoying a good breeze. He expected them to seek the shade of trees in a draw as the temperature rose.
Highs are forecast to drop into the high 70s by Saturday.