Cape Girardeau, Mo. – Sweltering conditions will grip southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, and western Kentucky today, with heat index values soaring as high as 107°F by late afternoon. Residents across the tri-state region—from Cape Girardeau to Paducah and Carbondale—should brace for oppressive heat through 7 p.m. CDT.
According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, a Heat Advisory covers Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, New Madrid, Scott, Stoddard, and Wayne counties in Missouri; Alexander, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Union, and Williamson counties in Illinois; and Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Hickman, Fulton, Graves, Livingston, McCracken, and Marshall counties in Kentucky. The advisory is in effect from noon until 7 p.m. today, and similar conditions are expected again Thursday.
Local officials urge residents to avoid outdoor activities during peak afternoon hours, stay in air-conditioned spaces, and check on vulnerable neighbors. Schools, road crews, and utility workers face heightened risk for heat-related illness, and cooling centers are opening in several communities including Paducah, Carbondale, and Cape Girardeau.
If you must be outside, wear light clothing, take frequent breaks, and drink water regularly. Extreme heat can be dangerous for children, seniors, and those without adequate cooling—watch for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Relief remains limited, as heat indices are expected to climb again Thursday. Additional advisories are likely, and updates will follow if the threat continues.
