We are heating up in North Texas, as a ridge of high pressure in the lower Mississippi River Valley brings hot temperatures and heat alerts to the southeastern United States.

We topped out at 97° Monday afternoon, tying our warmest day of the year so far, and it gets hotter from here. We'll warm about a degree a day as we get through the workweek, and we are eyeing our first triple-digit day of the year later this week.

Expect air temperatures in the upper 90s to near 100, with heat indices above 100 as a result of humidity.

So far during the month of July, we have had fairly moist soil across the region, which is a big reason we haven't seen that first 100-degree day. It's much harder to warm a moist environment. 

The difference now is that our soil moisture is starting to evaporate and dry out. As a result, we have a very high probability of seeing that first triple-digit day of the year by Friday.

Be sure to stay hydrated as you head out, and if you are spending time outdoors, take frequent breaks in the shade and A/C.

Also, make sure to take the dog walks early or late in the day to avoid paw burns from hot pavement. Remember, the pavement gets a lot hotter than the air temperatures when the sun is at a high angle. Dark pavement can get as hot as 140°+.

A few clouds look to build in this weekend, leading to a very slight drop in temperatures, back into the upper 90s.

• Weather Forecast
• First Alert Weather
• North Texas
• Dallas
• Fort Worth