Hot weather is always a subject of complaint during the summer in St. Joseph. For the remainder of this week, it may be a cause for concern.

The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning on Tuesday for Buchanan County and most of the surrounding area until Thursday at 9 p.m. St. Joe Now weather specialist Lindie Patton said today’s heat index will be between 105 and 110 degrees.

“That’s just in the shade, with a light breeze,” she said. “If you’re out in the sun, you can tack on another 10 to 15 degrees.”

Even after the warning is lifted, the weather will continue to be at sweltering levels at about high to mid-90s the rest of the week.

The warning states that extensive periods of dangerously high temperatures and high humidity will occur, likely resulting in heat-related illnesses.

The dangerous weather conditions have places around the city stepping up to help those without air conditioning.

InterServ’s Calvin Center, 1412 N. Third St., welcomes anyone looking to stay cool for a while to stop in from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The center is also serving a noon meal for seniors and delivering meals to homebound and special-needs individuals.

The heat relief service was made available to the public this week, but an employee at InterServ said no one had taken advantage of the service yet.

The same goes for other places listed as heat relief centers, such as East Hills Library.

“There have been some people coming in and staying a little bit longer than they would, normally,” Riley Caton, a librarian assistant at East Hills, said.

Mr. Caton said, for the most part, he hasn’t seen a drastic increase in traffic during the past few days.

Other places listed as heat relief centers include:

Carnegie Library, 316 Massachusetts St., St. Joseph, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday.

Downtown Library, 927 Felix St., St. Joseph, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday.

East Hills Library, 502 N. Woodbine Road, St. Joseph, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

East Hills Shopping Center, 3702 Frederick Blvd., St. Joseph, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m., Sunday.

InterServ’s Calvin Center, 1412 N. Third St., St. Joseph, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Joyce Raye Patterson Senior Citizens Center, 100 S. 10th St., St. Joseph, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, must be 50 years of age or older.

Rolling Hills Eastside Library, 1904 N. Belt Highway, St. Joseph, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday.

Rolling Hills Savannah Library, 514 W. Main St., Savannah, Mo., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday.

Washington Park Library, 1821 N. Third St., St. Joseph, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday; 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday.

Andrew Gaug can be reached at andrewgaug@npgco.com