Heat — Bollinger, Missouri

1997-07-26 to 1997-07-28 · Bollinger, Missouri

Event narrative

A heat wave spanning a three-day period caused heat stress problems for the unprepared. A cooling unit of an air conditioner in a Cape Girardeau office building failed, causing four employees to require medical attention. The four women spent a good part of the day in the room without air conditioning. The women became lethargic and overheated, and were taken to a local hospital as a precaution. Over a four-day period, Southeast Missouri hospitals treated at least a dozen people for heat related illness in their emergency rooms. About half of the cases involved elderly residents. Four people were treated for dehydration at one hospital on July 27. High temperatures were in the upper 90s to near 100 degrees for three consecutive days. High humidity sent the heat index up to near 115 degrees.

Wider weather episode

High temperatures were in the upper 90s to around 100 degrees for three consecutive days. High humidity pushed heat index values to between 105 and 115 degrees. An air conditioning unit failed on an office building in Cape Girardeau. Four overheated female employees in the office building were taken to a local hospital as a precaution. Area hospitals treated at least a dozen people for dehydration or other heat-related problems during the heat wave. The highest temperature at Cape Girardeau was 100 degrees during this heat wave.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5609821. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.