A long-duration heat wave is expected to continue through this week as a heat advisory is now in effect for Thursday across portions of southwest Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle. 

• According to Okaloosa Public Safety Director Patrick Maddox, an excessive heat watch has been issued for parts of the area on Friday.

Excessive heat with heat indices of 108 to 112 are expected in the advisory area, with 113 to 116 in the warning area on Thursday. 

Maddox says that this is expected each afternoon into the weekend, with the highest heat indices being confined to coastal areas and west of the Tombigbee River, spreading eastward by the end of the week.

“There is a chance that some drier air may result in heat index values being a bit lower today, but we have opted to keep the current Excessive Heat Warning and Heat Advisory in effect for now due to the uncertainty,” said Maddox on Thursday morning.  “An Excessive Heat Watch remains in effect for Friday.”