HUNTSVILLE — The “dog days” of August are still a couple days away, but the weather will be sweltering nonetheless as July winds down.

A heat advisory will be in effect from noon to 7 tonight for heat indices up to 109 degrees, according to the National Weather Service Huntsville office. The advisory covers Madison, Morgan, Cullman, Limestone, Lawrence, Lauderdale, Colbert, and Franklin counties in Alabama and Lincoln County in Southern Middle Tennessee.

Also, there is a marginal risk for severe weather today, the office said.

“This is a conditional threat,” the forecasters said. “There is a low to medium chance for storms to develop this afternoon.

“If storms develop they will pose a threat for damaging winds, frequent lightning, and heavy rainfall.”

The unseasonably hot and humid weather conditions will continue through Friday, according to the forecast. Highs will be in the mid/upper 90s with maximum Heat Index values 105-109F.