KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As oppressive heat indices continue to affect the Kansas City area, the National Weather Service warns residents should limit their time outdoors and reschedule or cancel activities amid the dangerous conditions.
At 2:25 p.m. Sunday, NWS Topeka reports the heat index was 134 degrees at the Lawrence Municipal Airport.
The current heat index in Lawrence is 134! This is extremely dangerous heat. Please take it serious and limit your time outdoors. #kswx pic.twitter.com/mjIGY5HFoZ
— NWS Topeka (@NWSTopeka) August 20, 2023
Just about a half-hour earlier, at 2 p.m. Sunday, NWS Kansas City reported the Kansas City International Airport saw a heat index of 117 degrees and downtown was experiencing a 120-degree index.
Heat indices as of 2pm across the area. pic.twitter.com/I4PqXFqzU1
— NWS Kansas City (@NWSKansasCity) August 20, 2023
KSHB 41 meteorologist Wes Peery reports the temperatures in the area are currently hotter than Death Valley, which is experiencing rain courtesy of Tropical Storm Hilary.
Over the weekend
Manhattan, Kansas, clocked the hottest temperature in the country and Lawrence saw a 126-degree heat index on Saturday.
Between the high temperatures on both Saturday and Sunday, emergency services throughout the area received plentiful heat-related calls. A spokesperson for Johnson County MED-ACT reports 169 patients were treated on-site, with six being taken to an area hospital, for heat-related emergencies at the Garmin KC Air Show at the New Century AirCenter.
"MED-ACT reminds citizens to drink plenty of water and to prepare for the extreme heat over the next several days. You can visit www.jocogov.org/heat for local resources, including cooling centers. Please check on your neighbors that may be more susceptible to the extreme heat, and if you believe that anyone may be having an emergency, do not hesitate to dial 911," MED-ACT shared in a statement.
And as of 6 p.m. Sunday, a spokesperson for the Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Department said at least 17 heat exposure calls have been received. However, the spokesperson admitted additional calls may have come in coded as different symptoms (dizzy, fainting, sick).
This week
KSHB 41 Weather reports the heat isn’t going away any time soon.
Temperatures in the high 90s, low 100s are forecast through Thursday. Some relief comes Friday.
Additionally, the high temps contributed to an orange ozone alert for Monday, Aug. 21. This is the 13th alert of the year.
@MARCKCMetro is issuing an orange Ozone Alert for tomorrow, Monday, Aug. 21. This is the 13th Ozone Alert for the season. For information about air pollution and what to do when ozone levels are high, visit https://t.co/7o8gdUPfUr. pic.twitter.com/VpdztHIOXx
— MARC AirQ Program (@airqkc) August 20, 2023
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