Midwest City Could Hit Triple-Digit Temperature Not Seen in Nearly 2 Years
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
As a heat wave grips the Central U.S. this week, Kansas City, Missouri, could hit 100 degrees for the first time in nearly two years.
"Kansas City, Missouri, has not hit 100 degrees since Aug. 25, 2023, but is positioned to do so on multiple days during the upcoming heat dome," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill said in an AccuWeather report.
Newsweek reached out to AccuWeather by email for comment.
Why It Matters
The heat wave poses immediate risks for millions, with AccuWeather and the National Weather Service (NWS) warning of heightened danger for heat-related illnesses from exposure to excessive heat and humidity. The event highlighted the vulnerability of major Midwest cities to extended heat waves, particularly as the heat index, or the feels-like temperature, was projected to climb as high as 107 degrees in Kansas City.
A map from AccuWeather shows where the heat wave will bring hot temperatures this week.
A map from AccuWeather shows where the heat wave will bring hot temperatures this week.
AccuWeather
What To Know
The NWS in Kansas City issued an extreme heat warning, effective through 7 p.m. CDT on Thursday. The warning covered Kansas City and surrounding counties in eastern Kansas and western Missouri.
The alert cautioned residents to "drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors."
The NWS also advised limiting strenuous activities to the early morning or evening hours and watching for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
The warning encompassed multiple counties, including urban centers and rural areas, and extended through one of the busiest stretches of summer for outdoor activities and travel.
The AccuWeather forecast called for daytime highs to reach or exceed 100 degrees across much of the U.S. that has not yet seen such high temperatures this summer.
The persistence of this heat wave was attributed to a heat dome, a large zone of high pressure trapping hot air at the surface. AccuWeather reported that the core of the dome could "linger through a good chunk of August," potentially resulting in "a long-lasting heat wave with limited rainfall."
On Monday, the NWS HeatRisk map anticipated that there would be a major risk for heat-related impact in the Kansas City area.
"This level of heat affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration," the map said. "Impacts likely in some health systems, heat-sensitive industries and infrastructure."
The HeatRisk forecast expects major heat impact to persist across parts of the Central U.S. through at least Sunday.
What People Are Saying
NWS Kansas City, in an extreme heat warning: "Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events."
NWS, in a forecast on Monday: "The heat will increase and expand across the Central Plains, Mississippi Valley, Southeast and into the Eastern U.S. through the week as high pressure builds across the eastern two-thirds of the country. On the northern periphery of this heat, the threat for severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across the northern Plains and upper Midwest through Tuesday."
What Happens Next
The immediate threat of extreme heat will remain through at least Thursday, with the possibility of continued high temperatures if the heat dome persists into August. Conditions were expected to be especially challenging for outdoor workers, the elderly and those without access to air conditioning. AccuWeather warned that nights would offer little relief, with low temperatures forecast in the mid-70s to low 80s.
The NWS advised extreme caution and recommended regularly checking the latest forecasts and warnings for updates as the situation evolved. As the heat dome remains in place, local authorities and health officials reiterated the importance of community outreach and preparedness measures to prevent heat-related emergencies.
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