Weather service: Heat index could top 100 degrees today, Wednesday

At least two days of heat indexes higher than 100 degrees are expected today and Wednesday in Southeast Missouri, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service office in Paducah, Ky., on Monday issued a special weather statement for Southeast Missouri, Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois saying heat indexes are expected to reach the 100- to 105-degree range today and Wednesday. The time period of "greatest concern" each day is from 1 to 7 p.m., according to the statement.

The heat index is a calculation of what the temperature feels like outside, factoring both heat and humidity. Temperatures in Cape Girardeau were expected to reach the low to mid-90s Monday, today and Wednesday before cooling down Thursday after showers and storms Wednesday.