This Independence Day weekend could become the hottest on record, National Weather Service forecasters say, as the kind of searing heat and rainless days that marked June continue.

“Each day will be near or above record levels at many locations” throughout southeastern Texas, the weather service said in a “Special Weather Statement” Friday morning. “And heat index values will peak in a 102 to 107 range. A heat advisory might be needed.”

Weather service forecasters warned people to prepare for the extreme heat and, among other things, wear light-weight and light-colored clothing and avoid prolonged or strenuous activity in the heat of the afternoon.

However, Fort Bend County residents likely are becoming used to dealing with the hot weather. Data gathered from the weather service monitoring equipment at Sugar Land Regional Airport shows that June was one of the hottest and driest months on record here.

Over 30 days, the daily high temperature averaged 96.4 degrees. Over the entire month of June, a mere .78-inch of rain fell.

What makes those figures devestating for crop farmers in western Fort Bend County is the fact that June usually is the wettest month of the year, averaging about 6.25 inches.

July usually is the hottest, with an average daily high of 93.6 degrees. According to this weekend’s forecast, that average will easily be exceeded for the first few days of this month.

However, the National Weather Service finally offered some hope for an end to the weather misery index:

“Heat relief is expected to come next week. The strong upper-level high pressure system will weaken and drift westward,” the weather service said. “Both decreasing afternoon high temperatures and increasing rain chances can be expected.”

For the July 4 weekend, however, the prevailing drought conditions have resulted in both a burn ban and a ban on bottle rockets and other fireworks that are sold on a stick or contain rocket fins. County officials also have said the burn ban means those fireworks whose sale have not been banned may not be legally discharged.

As a result, residents wishing to legally enjoy a fireworks display should plan on attending one of the large supervised displays being put on in certain cities (see related story).