Dangerous Heat, Humidity Blanketing Much of Nation, Cautions Urged

by PEP | August 7, 2007 at 10:35 am

176 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

Hot, humid air is blanketing wide areas of the nation this week, and Missouri health experts have been urging people to stay in air-conditioned buildings and take it easy.

Temperatures in much of Missouri are expected to reach well into the upper 90s — and in many cases above 100 degrees — through much of this week. The heat index, calculated from a combination of temperature and humidity, is predicted to climb above 105.

Highs in the 90s were expected from the western Plains to the East Coast.

"People don't realize it but heat is generally the No. 1 killer" among weather-related causes, said Ben Miller, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service office in the St. Louis area.

The heat index here is 108 degrees, again, and most likely will get worse later this week. We're under a weather advisory that began last Sunday and that extends through next Sunday.

If your town or city is opening air conditioned community shelters, please add that information to this article.