Southeast Missouri in for a hot week

The temperatures experienced by Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival attendees Saturday and Sunday won't be leaving the area anytime soon, according to Christine Wielgos, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky.

Temperatures will stay in the upper 90s all week and into the weekend, she said, with today and Tuesday being the hottest days of the week. Temperatures are expected to hit 100 degrees or more, she said, but by Thursday residents may see it back in the low 90s.

"It's summer; you're going to get heat waves like this once in a while," Wielgos said.

Still, Wielgos added, the temperatures are slightly above average for June. In Cape Girardeau, the normal high for this time of year is around 87 degrees.

"I don't see any upper 80s in the seven-day forecast," Wielgos said.

The extreme high temperatures, combined with the high humidity levels, will result in heat index temperatures exceeding 105 degrees each afternoon this week.

The National Weather Service recommends staying inside, or out of the sun, and drinking plenty of fluids.

-- From staff reports