For close to two weeks, temperatures in mid-Missouri have peaked over 100 degrees.
Saturday marked the 11th consecutive day of the relentless heat, with the only significant rain in longer than that being a spot storm over Fulton July 2. Businesses, civic buildings and organizations offering their facilities as cooling centers to the community have seen a considerable increase in foot traffic, while the Oestreich Memorial Pool has seen some of its best business in recent years.
The Callaway County Public Library in Fulton, which operates as a cooling center during regular hours, said that by noon Saturday they already had at least 10 visitors making use of the building's air conditioning, including a woman and her four children whose air conditioning wasn't working at home.
"Homeless people often come in and hang out all day," said library staffer Matt Mize. "This place is cooler than where I live, so I like coming into work."