ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis area will be under an excessive heat warning beginning at noon Sunday and extending through most of the week, with daily high temperatures of around 100 degrees and heat indexes of up to 115.
This may be the first time in nine years that the area experiences a stretch of several days with temperatures that high. In August 2014, the National Weather Service recorded seven days in a row in which temperatures rose above the 95-degree mark.
“It is typical for this time of year to be hot, everyone knows the dog days of August, but we usually don’t have this string of heat,” said Lydia Jaja, a meteorologist with the weather service.
As of 6 p.m. Saturday, the weather service was forecasting for Sunday a high temperature of 102 and a heat index as high as 109.
Excessive heat warnings are issued when heat and humidity combine to push the heat index to at or about 105. That combined heat index, Jaja said, is the “feels like” temperature for people.
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“Consecutive days of this magnitude of heat increases the chance of heat related illness for vulnerable populations and those spending time outdoors,” forecasters wrote in the heat warning.
The weather service recommends that people stay in air conditioned rooms. Those outside should drink lots of water, apply sunscreen every two hours, wear lightweight and light-colored clothing and take regular breaks in the shade.
Overnight temperatures should drop to the mid-70s to 80. Jaja said, however, that with the high humidity “it’s not going to be much relief.”
Updated at 6 p.m. Saturday