Heat Wave

There is no big change coming in Kansas weather this weekend with hot temperatures continuing regionwide. The huge area of high pressure will remain locked in over the central Plains through the next 7 days, so sunny and hot weather is likely to be with us into next week. Excessive heat warnings are in effect through next week, and it covers a large part of central and eastern Kansas. It's going to be hot in western Kansas too, but the heat index values will be a little lower than the air temperature (because of lower humidity)

“Oh, I think it's pretty hot and humid and I think it makes us sticky and irritable and miserable,” said Cheryl McCray who was visiting Wichita from Illinois Thursday. Wichita has seen close to a record number of hot days this summer with 11 100 degree days in June in alone. The air capital city has seen hotter though, but you have to go back to 1980 or even further back to 1936. Extreme heat and drought hit Wichita in the mid-1930's when the dust bowl ripped through and destroyed crops.

The last day of the Wichita Open is met with triple-digit temps. The high topped 100 across most of Kansas on Sunday as is expected to climb even higher on Monday. It was plenty hot for golfers and fans, but tournament volunteers are putting in the most hours in the scorching heat.  Their job now is to get the course back looking the way it did before the tourney and get scoreboards and such on the road to the next PGA tournament stop. "Being out here in 100 degree weather makes it a lot tougher," volunteer Dustin Kinder says.

Our intense summer heat wave will roll on with no big changes expected through the weekend. Excessive heat warnings and heat advisories have been posted for most of Kansas through Friday. Wednesday will be another sunny, hot day with most of the state soaring to well above 100 degrees this afternoon. More record heat is on the way for parts of western Kansas along with strong southerly winds gusting over 30 mph at times late in the day. A few scattered storms will be possible over northwest Kansas Wednesday and Thursday nights but that will be the only rain chance on our weather horizon for a while.

Our relentless heat wave will roll on through the weekend and into most of next week not only for for Kansas but most of the central and southern Plains too. Look for more triple-digits and gusty southerly winds Friday afternoon under a sunny to mostly sunny sky as afternoon highs range from 105 to 110 for many. The hottest readings will be found over central and western Kansas. Excessive heat warnings and heat advisories remain in effect for most of Kansas through Friday evening.

Our relentless heat wave will not let up this week but there are hints of better rain chances in our forecast too. Temperatures will soar back to around 105 again for most of southern Kansas Monday afternoon. A heat advisory remains in effect for south-central Kansas through Monday evening where heat index values will reach the 104-110 range . A few stray storms could develop late Monday but they'll remain spotty. Look for a little better chance for storms late Monday night across Kansas, including Hutch and Wichita.

No big weather changes are in store for the next few days so the excessive heat warnings and advisories continue through Tuesday. The combined effects of hot temperatures and high humidity will make it feel like nearly 110 at times during the afternoon so continue to practice heat safety. Scattered afternoon clouds will pop up over central and eastern Kansas but conditions we will once again stay dry Monday. Temperatures will soar back above the century mark with a south wind running about 10-20 mph for much of our area.

Our intense summer heat wave will roll on with no big changes expected through the weekend. Excessive heat warnings and heat advisories have been posted for most of Kansas through Friday. Wednesday will be another sunny, hot day with most of the state soaring to well above 100 degrees this afternoon. More record heat is on the way for parts of western Kansas along with strong southerly winds gusting over 30 mph at times late in the day. A few scattered storms will be possible over northwest Kansas Wednesday and Thursday nights but that will be the only rain chance on our weather horizon for a while.

The last day of the Wichita Open is met with triple-digit temps. The high topped 100 across most of Kansas on Sunday as is expected to climb even higher on Monday. It was plenty hot for golfers and fans, but tournament volunteers are putting in the most hours in the scorching heat.  Their job now is to get the course back looking the way it did before the tourney and get scoreboards and such on the road to the next PGA tournament stop. "Being out here in 100 degree weather makes it a lot tougher," volunteer Dustin Kinder says.

If 111 degree heat in Hill City yesterday doesn't sum it up, then here are the details...   A ridge of high pressure in the upper levels of the atmosphere continues to build and will be centered over Kansas most of this week.  The end result will be sunny skies and temperatures forecast to reach the century mark or even higher.  So, some will sizzle, some will fry, while others burn.  Heat Advisories for high heat index values (temperature plus humidity factor) will be a common occurrence this week with indices running between 105-108 degrees.

This afternoon there will be a chance of isolated severe storms near the Nebraska border, but the better chances will be north and east into adjacent sections of Nebraska and Missouri. Look for returning sunshine as temperatures soar significantly by afternoon. Much of the state will see highs in the 80s with some 90s possible out west. Southerly winds will increase too with gusts to 40 mph expected by late in the day. Wednesday afternoon and evening the severe threat will be limited to the Kansas counties along the Nebraska border and points north.