Stoddard County, Missouri - The National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky has issued a SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT UNTIL 9PM CDT TUE for Stoddard County, Missouri

...HEAT INDEX VALUES TO HOVER NEAR 100 DEGREES WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

.. INCREASING HUMIDITY NEAR 50 PERCENT, COMBINED WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 90S, WILL PRODUCE HEAT INDEX VALUES BETWEEN 100 AND 103 DEGREES WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AFTERNOON. FOR THOSE PERSONS THAT MUST WORK OUTDOORS, BE SURE TO KEEP HYDRATED WITH WATER AND TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS IN THE SHADE OR AN AIR-CONDITIONED SHELTER.

THIS WILL HELP LESSEN THE IMPACT ON YOUR HEALTH DURING PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE HEAT. KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON CHILDREN, PERSONS WITH SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS, AND PETS. THEY CAN BE ESPECIALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE SUMMER HEAT.

NEVER LEAVE A CHILD OR PET IN A CAR UNATTENDED AND WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED WITHOUT AIR-CONDITIONING,THIS CAN BE DEADLY FOR THEM IN A VERY SHORT TIME.

ALTHOUGH RAIN CHANCES AND MORE CLOUD COVER IS EXPECTED TO RETURN ON THURSDAY, HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL ONCE AGAIN RISE TO AROUND 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE RAIN AREAS. SOME RELIEF FROM THE HEAT IS EXPECTED ON FRIDAY, WITH TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TO DROP BACK INTO THE 80S WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN.