Excessive Heat — Butler, Missouri

2016-07-18 to 2016-07-24 · Butler, Missouri

Wider weather episode

A prolonged period of hazardous heat and humidity occurred from July 18-24, resulting in one death. Near Poplar Bluff, a 23-year-old man died after overheating during a strenuous workday trimming trees. The man started his workday around 7 A.M. on July 22 and became overheated around 4:30 that afternoon. He was hospitalized with a core temperature of more than 108 degrees and died the following day. Heat indices peaked above 105 degrees for four consecutive days in parts of southeast Missouri, mainly south and west of Cape Girardeau. Heat indices in this same area peaked above 100 degrees for seven consecutive days. The peak heat index at the Poplar Bluff airport reached the following values: July 18 - 105 degrees, July 19 - 102 degrees, July 20 - 103 degrees, July 21 - 108 degrees, July 22 - 111 degrees, July 23 - 106 degrees, and July 24 - 105 degrees. From Cape Girardeau north, heat indices peaked above 100 degrees for seven consecutive days, but they seldom reached 105. The peak heat index at the Cape Girardeau airport reached the following values: July 18 - 104 degrees, July 19 - 103 degrees, July 20 - 102 degrees, July 21 - 106 degrees, July 22 - 103 degrees, July 23 - 102 degrees, and July 24 - 102 degrees. A weak surface high over the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians produced a light south wind flow of hot and humid air for an extended period.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 647312. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.