Local Severe Weather Alert for Saint Louis, MO

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THURSDAY... 

* TIMING...THE DANGEROUS COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST THURSDAY EVENING. 

* HEAT INDEX VALUES...PEAK READINGS OF 105 TO 115 DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS EACH DAY...WITH LITTLE RELIEF DURING THE NIGHT. THE MOST OPPRESSIVE CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR IN THE SAINT LOUIS METRO AREA DUE TO THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT. 

* IMPACTS...THESE HIGH LEVELS OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL THREATEN THE HEALTH OF THE PUBLIC...ESPECIALLY THE VERY YOUNG...THE ELDERLY...AND THOSE WITH CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS. DO NOT TAKE THIS THREAT LIGHTLY...THE LENGTH OF THIS HEAT WAVE WILL POSE A VERY REAL AND DANGEROUS HEALTH RISK TO THESE AT-RISK GROUPS AND THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO AIR CONDITIONING. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...  PEOPLE IN THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN AREA CAN GET INFORMATION ABOUT COOLING CENTERS OR ENERGY ASSISTANCE RELATED TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT BY CALLING THE UNITED WAY OF GREATER ST. LOUIS AT 800-427-4626...OR IF CALLING FROM A LAND LINE PHONE DIAL 2-1-1. YOU CAN ALSO CALL COOL DOWN ST. LOUIS AT 314-241-7668. 

THIS BUILD UP OF HEAT WILL MAKE HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES A VERY REAL AND DANGEROUS THREAT...ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE LIVING IN UN-AIR CONDITIONED HOMES OR APARTMENTS. PEOPLE IN THE WARNING AREA ARE ADVISED TO AVOID POORLY VENTILATED AREAS AND PROLONGED WORK IN THE SUN. USE AIR CONDITIONING IN YOUR HOUSE OR APARTMENT IF IT IS WORKING CORRECTLY. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING...KEEP YOUR HOUSE OR APARTMENT WELL VENTILATED WITH FANS...AND TRY TO SPEND SOME TIME IN AN AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENT TO GIVE YOUR BODY A BREAK FROM THE HEAT.

TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN POSSIBLE...RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO THE EARLY MORNING OR EVENING.

KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE.

WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. 

TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK...THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION.

HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY. CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY.