ST. LOUIS (AP) - Officials are blaming 18 Missouri deaths on the heat and investigating six others as possibly heat-related.
In eastern Missouri, health officials say 14 heat deaths have occurred in St. Louis and two others in St. Louis County. Another heat death has been confirmed in the central part of the state.
In the Kansas City-area, officials announced Thursday that heat claimed the life of a 13-month-old suburban Lee's Summit boy who died May 3 after being left in a hot car. The Jackson County medical examiner is investigating six other deaths as possibly heat related.
State officials say there have been more than 670 heat-related emergency room visits since May.
Temperatures cooled slightly this week after 10 straight days of 100-degree weather. But high temperatures are expected to return next week.