Stoddard County, Missouri - The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement until 5:30 p.m. Thursday for Stoddard County, Missouri.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT UNTIL 5:30AM CDT THU

...PROLONGED PERIOD OF OPPRESSIVE HEAT THROUGH THE WEEKEND

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

THE HEAT INDEX THIS AFTERNOON REACHED 100 DEGREES ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS, AND WEST OF THE LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

HEAT INDEX VALUES ARE FORECAST TO PEAK NEAR 100 DEGREES AGAIN ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

HOWEVER, TEMPERATURES AND HEAT INDICES WILL DEPEND ON THE EXTENT OF CLOUDINESS AND THUNDERSTORMS ON THURSDAY. BY 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. 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. DURING THIS UPCOMING HEAT WAVE, USE CAUTION IF YOU MUST BE OUTSIDE FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.

TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS IN THE SHADE OR AIR CONDITIONING. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER TO REPLENISH LOST FLUIDS. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, NEVER LEAVE A CHILD OR A PET IN A HOT VEHICLE, EVEN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME!