With Riverland Community College starting classes today and other schools to follow soon, the area is getting a steamy dose of summer weather.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for much of central and southern Minnesota through midnight Tuesday.

Daytime maximum heat index values will range between 100 and 110. The high for air temperature for today is forecast at 95 and for Tuesday at 93, according to the National Weather Service.

“These dangerous heat indices are the result of the combination of hot temperatures and high humidity values,” the warning states. “A weak cool front will push across the area late Tuesday and bring slight relief from the oppressively hot conditions for Wednesday, although temperatures will still range from the upper 80s to lower 90s.”

The warning says the hot and humid conditions are a reason for people to pay attention to stress and illness for the young and elderly, especially if they lack air conditioning. People should check and relatives and neighbors. The best time for outdoor work is early mornings or late evenings.

The excessive heat warning, issued early Monday, is in effect for Freeborn, Faribault, Waseca, Martin, Blue Earth and Steele counties, among several across the metro area, west-central and along the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers. Other area of the state, including Dodge, Olmsted, Fillmore and Mower counties, are in a heat advisory.