The heat wave that has inundated Southwest Louisiana for nearly two weeks now is expected to continue through the Fourth of July weekend and into next week.

“Fortunately rain chances increase by the middle of the next work week,” said Doug Cramer, the warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service. “Until then, the heat wave is likely to continue through Fourth of July Weekend.”

Cramer said a strong upper level ridge is suppressing convection and allowing air temperatures to soar.

“When the air temperatures combine with high humidity, dangerous heat index values will occur providing excessive heat conditions,” Cramer said. “This hot pattern will continue into the first few days of July.”

An excessive heat advisory is in effect until 7 p.m. Friday.

Cramer said dangerous heat is expected Friday with heat index values at or above 113 degrees.

The lack of precipitation over southeast Texas and Louisiana could also create a flash drought, he said.

Southwest Louisiana is considered “abnormally dry” for this time of year and portions of the state “have worsened over the past few weeks due to the lack of rainfall. Drought chances in this area are increasing.”