As temperatures in St. Louis and surrounding areas soar, the National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory in effect until 9 PM CDT this evening, with heat index values climbing up to 102 degrees. In an effort to mitigate the effects of the hot temperatures combined with high humidity, which can cause heat illnesses, residents are urged to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, and avoid sun exposure. The advisory extends to multiple counties, according to the NWS forecast.
The locale is bracing for a hot day, mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97, residents are advised to take extra precautions when outdoors, these include wearing lightweight and loose fitting clothing, and rescheduling strenuous activities to cooler parts of the day – morning or evening. Symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke should be acted upon immediately and 9 1 1 should be called in emergencies. As for the city's gait under the wrath of the sun, it strolls – draped in warmth, gaze fixed on the wavering horizon where salvation in the shape of leisurely breezes and the comfort of shaded alcoves promise a respite.
A string of thunderstorms are also on the horizon for St. Louisans, starting with isolated showers and thunderstorms after 3 pm today, carrying over into the night, and the potential for scattered thunderstorms is set to continue through Sunday, offering a 50 percent chance of rain and thunder, as forecasted by the NWS. These forecasts predict that residents may find solace in the sporadic storms that offer a break from the sweltering heat.
As for the upcoming days, there's the likelihood of thunderstorms, the period spanning from Friday to Monday night is painted in probabilities, a 50 percent chance on Friday afternoon, to a 40 percent chance Friday night, and so on and so forth into the week—with the climax reaching a 60 percent chance for showers and thunderstorms on Monday. This period of inclement weather ushers residents into an erratic dance, one minute they're reaching for sunglasses, the nex- for umbrellas, as clouds play this capricious game above, states the NWS.
