Heat in Cape Girardeau, Missouri

A large and strong high in the upper levels of the atmosphere brought a resurgence of triple digit heat. Heat indices again topped 105 degrees on a couple of afternoons. An elderly woman died of hyperthermia at Trail of Tears State Park in Cape Girardeau County, where she had been camping with family. The victim apparently fell asleep in an overheated vehicle. At least a few people sought treatment at local hospitals for heat exhaustion, but exact counts were not available from hospitals. Two cooling centers were opened in Cape Girardeau, and the city fire department asked citizens to check on homebound neighbors in poor health. This resurgence of heat was part of a longer term heat wave that lasted nearly all of August. At Cape Girardeau, the monthly average temperature of 82.1 degrees was the fifth warmest on record. At Poplar Bluff, the August average temperature of 82.5 degrees was tied for fourth warmest. Cape Girardeau set a record for the longest stretch of 90-degree plus high temperatures. Through and including August 24, there were 30 consecutive days of highs of 90 or above.