Excessive Heat in Benton, Arkansas

This period of excessively hot weather began in late July and continued into early August 2012. Extremely hot temperatures and high humidity combined to produce dangerously hot weather conditions across portions of northwest and west central Arkansas. Daily heat index values climbed into the 105 to 115 degree range with little relief occurring at night as temperatures only fell into the upper 70s to lower 80s. Two young children died during this period of extremely hot weather after being left in vehicles for an extended period of time.