Detroit area experiences dangerous heat with index values above 105 degrees

Southeast Michigan was placed under an Extreme Heat Warning through Friday evening as dangerously high temperatures gripped the Detroit area this week. The heat index, which measures how hot the air actually feels when humidity is included, climbed to between 105 and 107 degrees across the region.

At Detroit Metro Airport, Thursday's temperature reached 95 degrees, staying below the daily record of 99 degrees recorded on the same date in 2011. The normal July high for the area is around 84 degrees.

Residents largely stayed indoors during the hottest parts of the day, and local businesses saw fewer customers than usual. Hazy skies were caused by dust carried from the Sahara Desert, though air quality remained acceptable for most people. Thunderstorms bringing strong winds and heavy rain were also forecast for the area.