The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory today until 6 p.m. for areas throughout Southeast Missouri, including Cape Girardeau, Perry, Bollinger, Scott, Stoddard and other counties.

Temperatures are expected to reach near 100 degrees, with high humidity pushing the heat index to near 105 degrees around Southeast Missouri, from the Bootheel in the south to Perry County in the north. At this range the heat becomes dangerous to some people, and exposure to the heat has the potential to cause serious illness.

At 8:53 a.m., the observed temperature at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport was 83 degrees, with a heat index of 89. The National Weather Service predicts today's high will reach 97 in Cape Girardeau.

The advisory also extends into Southern Illinois, western Tennessee and Kentucky, northwest Arkansas and the St. Louis area.