It’s hot. No doubt about it – it’s dangerously hot.
And the National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for much of Southeast Missouri.
The NWS in Paducah issued the Excessive Heat Warning at 9 a.m. Friday morning, calling for dangerous levels of heat that will persist through the weekend and into early next week. The high temperatures will reach record or near record levels.
The Excessive Heat Warning includes Stoddard as well as Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Wayne, Butler, Scott, Mississippi, and New Madrid counties in Missouri. The warning also covers areas in Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky.
“This stretch of heat over the next several days will be comparable to the intense heat experienced back in the 1930s,” the warning from NWS in Paducah stated. In the summer of 1936 there were nine days of temperatures at or above 100 throughout the Midwest.
The weather service warns that some weather models are projecting that the heat may persist into next week, including the July 4 Independence Day holiday.
According to NWS, this Excessive Heat Warning includes several factors to watch:
- Dangerous levels of heat will occur each day through Monday, primarily from late morning through late afternoon.
- High temperatures will range from 100 to possibly 110 on Friday and from 100 to 104 degrees Saturday through Monday. The maximum Heat Index values will be similar to the actual air temperature – around 105 degrees.
- Heat-related illness such as heat exhaustion or heatstroke is a real threat. Dehydration can occur quickly and the effects of this heat wave will be cumulative given that it is going to persist for several days. The extended period will also cause drought conditions to worsen, maintaining concern for wildfire development in the region.
The prolonged heat and high humidity means heat illnesses are likely. People are advised to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air conditioning if possible, stay our of the sun and check on neighbors and relatives.
Extra precautions are advised if working outdoors, and strenuous activities should be rescheduled to early in the morning or in the evening. In addition, it is advised to wear light weight, loose-fitting clothing and to drink plenty of water.
Map Above: The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning fo much of Southeast Missouri. The area in fuchsia is a part of the NWS warning. (NWS map)
All city, county, state and federal offices and courts will be closed Wednesday, July 4, as Americans celebrate the Fourth of July holiday.
City of Dexter offices will be closed on Wednesday, July 4. According to City Administrator Mark Stidham, trash pickup in the city on Monday and Tuesday will be on schedule. Trash normally pickup up on Wednesday and Thursday will be one day; there will be no bulk pick-up on Friday. will run on holiday schedules.
Post offices will be closed and regular mail will not be delivered.
Banks throughout the area will be closed.
All State, Federal, and County offices will be closed.
Fireworks Cancelled
Due to the extreme drought conditions in Southeast Missouri, fireworks displays in Dexter and at many other communities in the region have been postponed or cancelled. Fireworks a anytime in Dexter is against city ordinance and law enforcement will enforcing this holiday.
In addition the banning fireworks in Dexter, fireworks have been banned in New Madrid, Bloomfield, Gideon, Parma and Advance.
By Annabeth iller,
ShowMe Times Editor
On the heels of Tuesday’s field fires that stretched more than 11 miles and closed a major Southeast Missouri highway for a time – and with no rain in the forecast - the City of Dexter joins the growing number of area communities taking steps to prevent fires during this summer’s drought.
Dexter Fire Chief Don Seymore announced Wednesday morning the city has issued “No Burn Order” for the city. This means that all burning in the city limits is forbidden until further notice.
Seymore also said the city will enforce a long-standing ordinance prohibiting fireworks in the city. The ordinance outlaws the fire of all fireworks in the city, including on the Fourth of July holiday.
“They will be enforcing this ordinance,” Seymore said.
In addition, the fire chief said the Fourth of July Fireworks Display sponsored by the City of Dexter has been postponed until further notice.
Missouri State Fire Marshall Randy Cole notes that May 2012 was one of the driest Mays on record for Missouri. According to NOAA, the one-year period from June 2011 to May 2012 was the warmest such period recorded for Missouri. The result is an elevated fire risk.
“This year's extremely dry conditions elevate the risk that even small sparks created by consumer fireworks can lead to grass and brush fires, which can rapidly spread” he noted.
A number of area communities join Dexter in issuing “no burn” orders, including Bloomfield, Sikeston, and Parma.
ShowMe Times Editor
Area firefighters from Dexter and four other Stoddard County communities have been battling a 10-mile string of fires Tuesday afternoon.
Dexter firefighters – along with crews from Bloomfield, Essex, Dudley and Bernie – have worked the string of wildfires fueled by the high temperatures and extreme dry conditions in the area.
Because of the smoke and poor visibility, both lanes of Highway 25 south from Dexter to Bernie have been closed for a time Tuesday afternoon, and one lane of Highway 60 has also been closed to traffic.
According to Dexter City Administrator Mark Stidham, the fires appear to have started from sparks from Union Pacific crews that have been “grinding” the tracks south of Dexter. Due to the dry, tender-like conditions of grass and undergrowth, the fires spread quickly, eventually stretching just south of Highway 60, almost to Bernie.
Stidham reported a volunteer fireman from Bloomfield sustained second and third degree burns while fight the blaze, and was transported to Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter for treatment.
“The dry conditions combined with high temperatures, low humidity and this afternoon’s wind have made these hard to control,” Stidham said.
One home near Highway 60 sustained damage, Stidham said, when flames damaged the siding on the back of the house. In addition, at least three different sheds in the fires’ pathways were destroyed by the blaze.
Stage agencies such as the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Division of Fire Safety, are urging Missourians to use extra caution in the extreme drought conditions in the state. Several counties have issued “no burn” orders, and communities throughout the state have banned or are considering a ban of fireworks for next week’s Independence Day holiday.
BE CAREFUL!! The ShowMe Times has just been informed by County Wide Insurance Agency that a County Wide customer received a phone call from a telemarketer saying that their insurance coverage has lapsed. Then they telemarketer said that if they wanted to keep their coverage they would have to give their credit card number to them.
"You should never receive a call directly from an insurance company asking you to make a credit card payment over the phone. Be VERY careful," Alan Hedrick of County Wide Insurance said.
So everyone please be aware of this incident and do not let them fool you. If you receive a call of this nature, please notify the local authorities and contact your phone company to have the phone number blocked.
