LITTLE RELIEF IN SIGHT AS DOG DAYS PERSIST

It's hot, and forecasters predict thundershowers later this week will do little to cool things off.

Sally Pavlow, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis, said, "The showers will provide a little bit of a respite, but don't bring out the fall clothes yet. It probably will not cool off a lot."

In fact, she wouldn't be surprised if high temperatures continue into September. "I usually root for good weather in October," Pavlow said.

A heat advisory continues today for Southeast Missouri, which means the air temperature combined with humidity will make the temperature feel like 105 degrees or higher.

The high temperature in Cape Girardeau has been above 90 degrees for nine days. On Monday, the high reached 97 degrees, one degree shy of the record.

The high of 96 degrees on Sunday tied the record high for that date. On Saturday, a new record high temperature of 96 degrees was set. The previous high was 94 degrees, set in 1985.

Temperatures have stayed high throughout the day. The low temperature hasn't dropped below 70 degrees since July 27.

On Sunday, the low of 72 degrees was the highest low on record. On Saturday, the low temperature of 72 degrees tied the record.

Pavlow said a slow-moving front is stalled over northwestern Missouri, which means the hot, humid weather is stalled over Southeast Missouri.

She said the front should push through by Wednesday, but Southeast Missouri has only a slight chance of thunderstorms. If it rains, the showers probably will be in the afternoon.

Pavlow said August typically is Missouri's hottest month. This year's temperatures have remained high in part because the air temperature in the upper atmosphere is higher than usual.

"It's just plain icky," she said.

The busy hurricane season this year adds to the moisture in Missouri, keeping humidity levels high. Hurricane season peaks in September.

"We don't really need the extra moisture," she said. "But that's about all we can expect from a hurricane."