one thing i love about NWS alerts is how fond they are of using ellipses. it’s so … dramatic!

1042 am CDT Fri Jul 14 2006 …Excessive heat watch in effect from Sunday afternoon through Tuesday evening… The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued an excessive heat watch…which is in effect from Sunday afternoon through Tuesday evening. Hot air will move into the area from the Central Plains beginning Saturday…but a lake breeze will help moderate conditions in Chicago. However southwest winds will allow temperatures to climb into the middle or upper 90s Sunday through Tuesday. High humidity levels combined with high temperatures will push the heat index into the range of 100 to 105 each day. Low temperatures overnight will only drop into the middle to upper 70s…allowing little relief. A weak cold front may flirt with the area Tuesday afternoon…but the heat could persist into Wednesday and Thursday. An excessive heat watch means that a prolonged period of hot temperatures is expected. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a dangerous situation in which heat stress or heat stroke is possible. Drink plenty of fluids…stay in an air-conditioned room…stay out of the sun…and check up on relatives and neighbors.

so, what are all y’alls’ plans for this weekend? i think my plan just became “pick up some snacky food products on the way home from work today, and catch up on my netflix backlog in air-conditioned comfort.” because i love nothing so much as state-sanctioned excuses to not leave my apartment!