Extreme Heat:

The National Weather Service has several heat alerts issued as dangerous heat continues across our area:

• An EXTREME HEAT WARNING (Pink) is in effect until Tuesday morning/evening, with heat index values up to 115 degrees possible. Sunday afternoon Cape Girardeau and southern Illinois were included in a warning that goes until 8 p.m. CDT Tuesday, July 29.
• A HEAT ADVISORY (Orange) remains in effect until Monday afternoon, where the heat index will be between 105 and 110 degrees.

It will be best to limit any extended time outdoors while these heat alerts are in place. Continue to properly hydrate, have ways to take breaks from the heat if you have to be outside, and remain familiar of the signs and action plans for heat-related illness seen above.

Forecast:

Low temperatures tonight will be in the upper 70s for most of the area. Last night, we tied the warmest low temperature for July 26 with a low of 78 degrees, set back in 2005. Our warmest low temperature for July 27 is 77 degrees, set in 2023.

High temperatures Monday will be above average in the middle to upper 90s. Mostly sunny skies with west-northwesterly winds and an isolated chance of an afternoon shower or thunderstorm.

The heat index in Cape Girardeau on Monday is expected to reach a blistering 112 degrees.

High levels of humidity will continue through for the upcoming week, allowing heat indices to reach dangerous levels the next several days.

Relief looks to be on the way on Thursday after we see a few more days of high temperatures in the middle 90s. A cold front will move through bringing precipitation chances in addition to the cooler temperatures. Small daily chances for precipitation for the start of August with highs falling to the lower 80s.

Storm Alert Team Meteorologist

Dominic Ferraro

Houston Hall