A theoretical analysis was conducted to characterize heat transfers from horizontal surfaces to normally impinging slot jets under arbitrary-heat-flux condition. The thermal and hydraulic boundary layers of laminar flow were divided into four regions of flow along heat transfer surfaces including a stagnation zone and three wall jet zones, from which general expressions of heat transfer coefficients were obtained. Furthermore, these results were compared with experimental and analytical data available in published literature. Good agreements were observed from the comparisons. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.