Intense heat returns to area; Community cooling stations available

Forecasters say that we are in for another stretch of hot weather. The National Weather Service in Indianapolis says that heat indexes will be near 100 today across parts of central Indiana, and reaching or more on Thursday. In our area, forecasters say it is going to feel like 105 tomorrow in Bloomington and Seymour and 106 in Shelbyville.

A heat advisory goes into effect for western Indiana today and for the rest of the state starting tomorrow.

The city of Columbus and Bartholomew County will be offering cooling stations as temperatures heat up.

According to Bartholomew County Emergency Management, if you need to get out of the heat you can stop at either the downtown Columbus or Hope branches of the Bartholomew County Public Library. The library on Fifth Street in Columbus will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Thursday and from 9 to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The branch on the Hope Town Square will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. again on Saturday.

You can also cool off at the Community Engagement Center on Second Street in Columbus from 7 a.m. to 4 p. m. today through Friday.

After 5 p.m., the Brighter Days Shelter on Mapleton Street in Columbus can be used to cool off.