The heat is on, and off

After a record-setting high, temperatures are forecast to chill out, but only for a little while.

By Jeremy Joffray ~ Southeast Missourian

After days of record-setting and record-approaching heat, Cape Girardeau will get a break in the weather as temperatures should be returning to normal, weather forecasts reported.

The high soared to 95 Tuesday, the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., said. The high was 11 degrees above the average high for June 4, and matched the record for the date, set in 1960.

But temperatures here should come back to normal throughout this week, steering clear of the 90s until at least the beginning of next week, said Mike Nadolski, a meteorologist for the weather service.

With highs for this past May falling about three degrees below Cape Girardeau's usual average of 78 degrees, many residents were not prepared for the 90-degree days that have come in June.

"The heat makes it hard to sleep at night, especially when it's so hot in our apartment," said Adam Albert of Cape Girardeau. "Our single air conditioner unit is not enough to cool our apartment. We have to have fans in every room just to try to cool them off."

Sandi Staples of Cape Girardeau also was caught a little off guard by the temperature.

"I just wanted the air conditioner to come on a little quicker," she said.

Rare 90s

Tuesday's 95-degree record marked only the second time in the past 10 years that Cape Girardeau had seen a high in the 90s on June 4.

The high exceeded the hottest day recorded in June last year by one degree. Over the past 10 years only two days in June have recorded hotter temperatures than Tuesday's.

In fact, there was only one day all of last summer that surpassed Tuesday's high.

Many Cape Girardeau residents, like Albert, are trying to stay inside to avoid the sweltering heat, as heat indexes climbed toward the century mark on Tuesday. The heat index, which was 98, combines temperature and humidity to provide a sense for how hot it feels.

For Staples, the sun and shorts that the warm weather of summer brings is welcome.

"I'd rather it be warm than cold," she said. "The humidity's not good, though."

The hot weather has been caused by a high pressure system that has been over the area the last couple of days, the meteorologist said.

Cape Girardeau wasn't alone when it came to this sudden heat wave. Some parts of Kansas as well as Nebraska topped the 100 degree mark over the weekend.

Areas of Colorado saw highs reach into the 90s, with Denver setting a record high on Sunday of 93.

jjoffray@semissourian.com

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