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Independence, MO —
That was a record, and there’s more on the way.
The National Weather Service says Friday’s high of 104 at Kansas City International Airport broke the old record, 103, set in 1939 and tied in 1954. Today’s record, also from 1939, is 105, and the forecast is for at least a tie. Unofficially, the Weather Service also recorded 102 in Lee’s Summit.
Relief is coming, but the metro area is looking at one more brutally hot day today, with a heat index of around 110. There’s also a modest chance of rain this evening and Sunday. An excessive heat warning remains in effect for the immediate Kansas City area through 7 p.m. Saturday, so residents are advised to take it easy, drink plenty of water and generally stay indoors. Authorities also point out that there’s an elevated risk of wildfires.
The Weather Service forecast:
• Today, a high of 105. There’s also an ozone alert for the day, so residents are advised to go easy on anything strenuous outdoors. There will be a light wind out of the southwest. There’s a 20 percent chance of rain in the evening, and the low is 77.
• The chance of rain grows to 40 percent Sunday, when the high is just 91, the heat index is 95, and the low is 70. The break in the heat comes just in time for the Futures Game and the Celebrity Softball Game as Major League Baseball All-Star events kick off late that afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.
• Monday brings clear skies, a high of 88 and a low of 69. The popular Home Run Derby is that evening at Kauffman.
• The big game is Tuesday night. Expect sunny skies, a high of 86 and a low of 68.
• Highs in the upper 80s are expected Wednesday through Friday. The moderate chance of rain Saturday night and Sunday is the only mention of precipitation in the forecast.
In the meantime, the excessive heat warning – meaning conditions can take a toll on human health – remains in effect, and the Weather Service and others remind people to pay heed to the conditions. The advice for hot, hot weather includes:
- Drink plenty of water, but not drinks with sugar, alcohol or caffeine.
- Generally stay indoors and in air conditioning. Fans are only good to a point, beyond which just blowing around all that hot, humid air can stress the body.
- If you go outside, find shade and have plenty of water. Cut down on strenuous outdoor activity, and do those tasks either before around 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
- Make sure outdoor pets of shade and plenty of water.
- Know the signs of heat exhaustion and the potentially deadly heat stroke.
That was a record, and there’s more on the way.
The National Weather Service says Friday’s high of 104 at Kansas City International Airport broke the old record, 103, set in 1939 and tied in 1954. Today’s record, also from 1939, is 105, and the forecast is for at least a tie. Unofficially, the Weather Service also recorded 102 in Lee’s Summit.
Relief is coming, but the metro area is looking at one more brutally hot day today, with a heat index of around 110. There’s also a modest chance of rain this evening and Sunday. An excessive heat warning remains in effect for the immediate Kansas City area through 7 p.m. Saturday, so residents are advised to take it easy, drink plenty of water and generally stay indoors. Authorities also point out that there’s an elevated risk of wildfires.
The Weather Service forecast:
• Today, a high of 105. There’s also an ozone alert for the day, so residents are advised to go easy on anything strenuous outdoors. There will be a light wind out of the southwest. There’s a 20 percent chance of rain in the evening, and the low is 77.
• The chance of rain grows to 40 percent Sunday, when the high is just 91, the heat index is 95, and the low is 70. The break in the heat comes just in time for the Futures Game and the Celebrity Softball Game as Major League Baseball All-Star events kick off late that afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.
• Monday brings clear skies, a high of 88 and a low of 69. The popular Home Run Derby is that evening at Kauffman.
• The big game is Tuesday night. Expect sunny skies, a high of 86 and a low of 68.
• Highs in the upper 80s are expected Wednesday through Friday. The moderate chance of rain Saturday night and Sunday is the only mention of precipitation in the forecast.
In the meantime, the excessive heat warning – meaning conditions can take a toll on human health – remains in effect, and the Weather Service and others remind people to pay heed to the conditions. The advice for hot, hot weather includes:
- Drink plenty of water, but not drinks with sugar, alcohol or caffeine.
- Generally stay indoors and in air conditioning. Fans are only good to a point, beyond which just blowing around all that hot, humid air can stress the body.
- If you go outside, find shade and have plenty of water. Cut down on strenuous outdoor activity, and do those tasks either before around 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
- Make sure outdoor pets of shade and plenty of water.
- Know the signs of heat exhaustion and the potentially deadly heat stroke.
Heat exhaustion happens when your body loses a lot of fluid, through perspiration. Symptoms are cool, moist, pale, ashen or flushed skin; headache; dizziness, nausea; weakness or exhaustion; and heavy sweating. Get out of the heat, rest in a cool, shady – or air conditioned – place, and drink small amounts of water. Loosen your clothing, and apply wet towels. If unable to drink water, or if vomiting starts, call 911.
This can worsen into heat stroke, when the body loses its ability to regulate heat. It’s a medical emergency. Symptoms are red skin – dry or moist – changes in consciousness, a rapid and weak pulse, and rapid, shallow breathing. Call 911, and treat the same as with heat exhaustion. The Red Cross suggests four ounces of water – that’s half a cup – every 15 minutes.
Today’s ozone alert means there are unhealthy concentrations of ground-level ozone in the metro area.
The primary concern is for active children and adults and those with respiratory disease such as asthma, all of whom are advised to limit prolonged outdoor exertion. It’s also suggested that residents drive less, use public transit (both the KCATA and IndeBus have 75-cent bus fares on ozone alert days), and avoid fueling your vehicle until after sundown; the vapors released during fueling create ozone when exposed to sunlight. Officials also advise putting off mowing, as lawnmowers and other gas-powered lawn equipment put off a surprising amount of pollution.
The air-quality problem is worse when it’s warm, as exhaust from smokestacks, cars, lawnmowers and other places mixes with air and sunlight to create ozone and the light breezes of summer do little to disperse it.
The Mid-America Regional Council posts a “sky cast” – green, yellow, orange or red – each day from April through October. Orange and red are ozone alerts. There have been about half a dozen orange days so far this year. There hasn’t been a red day in several years.
