Extreme Heat Warning Covers Missouri Through Thursday Night
Heat index values up to 110°F are forecast to grip Kansas City and much of Missouri through Thursday night as the National Weather Service issues multi-day Extreme Heat Warnings.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI — The National Weather Service has issued Extreme Heat Warnings for much of Missouri and surrounding areas, with dangerously hot conditions and heat index values expected to reach 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit through Thursday night, July 3.
The NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill office issued its warning starting at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 29, running through midnight CDT Thursday night, July 3. The warning covers portions of east central and northeast Kansas as well as central, north central, northeast, northwest, and west central Missouri, including the Kansas City metro area.
What to Expect
Forecasters warn that heat index values will climb to between 105 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit across the warned region. The NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill office noted that the region will experience a prolonged heat event with poor heat relief during overnight hours, meaning temperatures will not drop enough at night to provide meaningful recovery for residents.
A separate Extreme Heat Warning issued by the NWS St. Louis office covers Madison, Monroe, and Saint Clair counties in Illinois, as well as Jefferson, Saint Charles, Saint Louis City, and Saint Louis counties in Missouri, also running from noon Sunday through midnight CDT Thursday night. That office also projects heat index values of around 110 degrees.
Coverage Extends Across the Region
The heat event spans a wide geographic area. The NWS Quad Cities office issued an Extreme Heat Warning for portions of northwest and west central Illinois, east central and southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri, with heat index values exceeding 100 degrees and some locations seeing 105 to 110. That warning runs from 1 p.m. Sunday to 9 p.m. CDT Tuesday, June 30.
The NWS Quad Cities office added that excessive heat could linger for much of next week, though thunderstorms and associated cloud debris may temporarily interrupt the heat later in the week.
To the south, the NWS Paducah office issued an Extreme Heat Watch for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. That watch runs from Monday morning through Thursday evening, July 2, with heat index values of 105 to 110 possible. The Paducah office also issued a Heat Advisory for Sunday, when heat index values between 102 and 107 are expected. Forecasters noted the heatwave may linger into the Fourth of July weekend.
Health Risks and Precautions
All of the issuing offices emphasized that heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events. Residents are urged to limit outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours, stay hydrated, and check on elderly neighbors and those without air conditioning.
Local emergency management officials typically open cooling centers during Extreme Heat Warning events. Residents should contact their city or county emergency management office for information on nearby cooling center locations and hours.
