Heat Wave 2012

Boone County residents recall the quirky and imaginative tricks they used to "beat the heat" back in 1956, the year of the previously most widespread drought in the U.S.

Temperatures will continue to rise in Columbia this week, prompting another heat advisory for mid-Missouri by the National Weather Service.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reminds motorists that discarding lit cigarettes out of their car windows amid the current drought conditions is dangerous and illegal.

The West Broadway Swim Club hosted "Arctic Friday" where they passed out 10-pound blocks of ice to swimmers and made snow cones to help Columbia beat the heat

The governor is asking that brief grazing be allowed on soil and water livestock exclusion areas.

The heat brought an expected benefit for peppers and other crops: Their flavors became unusually concentrated, producing some of the most potent-tasting produce in years.

Matt Barnhart, manager of the private utility, said it's a precautionary measure in case the water is needed in the future.

The unusually hot dry weather that has gripped the nation will not let up its stranglehold over the next few months, federal weather forecasters said Thursday.

A new survey of bankers suggests the economy is slowing down in rural areas of 10 Midwest and Western states because of drought conditions.

The National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska rates Missouri's fire risk as the highest in the nation.

The death of an 89-year-old St. Louis County man is blamed on the heat, bringing the number of heat-related deaths in Missouri to 24 since June.

Treasurer Clint Zweifel said he is offering emergency 24-hour approvals of low-interest loans through the Missouri Linked Deposit Program because of the drought conditions.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a request to designate all Missouri counties as disaster areas due to the drought.

The University of Missouri Extension has a guide for using social media to respond to disasters.

Lawn care companies have to diversify to stay alive in the drought.

Cooler air swept southward in the eastern half of the country, bringing down some temperatures by 15 or more degrees from Saturday's highs, which topped 100 in cities including St. Louis.

Across the country, people try to stay cool by whatever means possible. 24 recent deaths nationwide have been blamed on excessive heat.

Even though triple-digit temperatures have been difficult to endure over the past several days, past years in Columbia have packed an even worse summer punch.

Across the state, experts say wildlife is being adversely affected by the heightened temperatures and dry conditions.

Prolonged heat in Missouri has evaporated ponds and kept pastures that feed livestock extremely dry and nutritionally low.