Mid-Missouri under Excessive Heat Warning starting Wednesday

The National Weather in St. Louis has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for much of Missouri starting at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, and continuing through 8 p.m. Saturday, July 20.
The National Weather in St. Louis has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for much of Missouri starting at 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, and continuing through 8 p.m. Saturday, July 20.

The National Weather Service in St. Louis has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for much of Missouri, starting at 1 p.m. Wednesday and extending through 8 p.m. Saturday.

With high temperatures forecast in the upper 90s, the NWS expects a heat index of up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

The warning area includes Cole, Boone, Callaway, Moniteau and Osage counties in Mid-Missouri, among other counties in Missouri and Illinois.

An Excessive Heat Warning means a prolonged period of dangerously hot temperatures and high humidity is expected - conditions that can quickly cause heat stress or heat stroke, according to the NWS.

The NWS advises that people in the warning area avoid poorly ventilated areas and prolonged work in the sun.

People whose homes do not have air conditioning are advised to ventilate their houses or apartments with fans and to spend some time in an air-conditioned environment to give their bodies a break from the heat.

People who must work outside should wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing, drink plenty of water, and schedule frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments.

Car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes during periods of excessive heat, the NWS notes.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services provides an interactive map that shows all official cooling centers in the state.

In Jefferson City, there are cooling centers at:

  • Capital Mall, 3600 Country Club Drive, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.
  • Clarke Senior Center, 1310 Linden Drive, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday, may close because of severe weather.
  • Missouri River Regional Library, 214 Adams St., 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
  • The Salvation Army Center of Hope, 927 Jefferson St., 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • West Point Senior Center, 2701 W. Main St., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In Callaway County, there are cooling centers at:

  • Callaway County Public Library, 710 Court St., Fulton, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
  • Callaway Senior Center, 531 Commons Drive, Fulton, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • 13th Judicial Circuit Court Callaway County, 10 E. Fifth St., Fulton, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In Moniteau County, there are cooling centers at:

  • Moniteau County Library, 501 S. Oak St., California; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.
  • Moniteau Nutrition Center, 421 Independence Ave., Tipton, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In Osage County, there are cooling centers at:

  • Osage County Health Department, 205 E. Main St., Linn, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • Osage County Library, 1014 D E. Main St., Linn, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.
  • Belle Library, 206B S. Alvarado, Belle, 1-5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 1-7 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.