Stoddard County, Missouri - The National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky has issued a Special Weather Statement until 4 p.m. for Stoddard County, Missouri.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT UNTIL 4PM CDT WED

...PROLONGED PERIOD OF OPPRESSIVE HEAT THROUGH THE WEEKEND

... AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF OPPRESSIVE HEAT AND HUMIDITY IS FORECAST LATE THIS WEEK AND LASTING THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

THE HEAT WILL BEGIN TO BUILD TODAY AS HIGH TEMPERATURES AROUND 90 DEGREES COMBINE WITH VERY HIGH HUMIDITY TO YIELD PEAK HEAT INDEX VALUES OF 100 TO 105 ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS, AND WEST OF THE LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES IN WESTERN KENTUCKY THIS AFTERNOON.

EVEN HOTTER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ON THURSDAY WITH HIGHEST HEAT INDEX VALUES AROUND 105 OVER THE SAME GENERAL AREA, AND READINGS OF 100 TO 105 FROM SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS INTO SOUTHWEST INDIANA AND EAST OF THE LAKES IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

WHILE UNCERTAIN, THE CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS MAY OFFER SOME RELIEF FROM THE HEAT ON THURSDAY. B

Y FRIDAY, THE ENTIRE REGION WILL BE SWELTERING IN THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY, WITH HIGHEST HEAT INDEX VALUES FROM 105 TO 110 EXPECTED.

A HEAT ADVISORY WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED BY FRIDAY, IF NOT SOONER. THE OPPRESSIVE HEAT IS FORECAST TO LAST THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS WELL, WITH PEAK HEAT INDEX VALUES FORECAST ABOVE 100 EACH DAY.

ABOUT THE ONLY RELIEF FROM THE HEAT MAY COME IN THE FORM OF ISOLATED MAINLY HEAT OF THE DAY THUNDERSTORMS.

USE CAUTION IF YOU MUST BE OUTSIDE FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT, LIGHT COLORED CLOTHING.

TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS IN THE SHADE OR AIR CONDITIONING.

DRINK PLENTY OF WATER TO REPLENISH LOST FLUIDS.

CHECK ON ELDERLY NEIGHBORS AND RELATIVES WHO ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE HEAT.

KEEP YOUR PETS COOL AND HYDRATED. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, NEVER LEAVE A CHILD IN A HOT VEHICLE, EVEN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME!

Weather sponsored by Bagby Weather Management.