Excessive heat warning issued for Cape, Bollinger, Perry counties

Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Perry counties are part of a band of counties stretching from Arkansas to Indiana that are under an excessive heat warning until tonight.

The warning remains in effect until 10 p.m. today, according to the National Weather Service. The warning cancels a heat advisory that was previously in effect.

The warning said that temperatures will be in the upper 90s to low triple-digits today, with high humidity combining to create heat indexes near 110, according to the weather service.

Wednesday's high temperature in Cape Girardeau was 98 degrees, with today's high expected to top out near 98 degrees.

The state's 24th heat-related death of the summer was reported this week in St. Louis County. The state has suffered under several weeks of temperatures above 90 degrees and, for an extended stretch, higher than 100 degrees.