The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning July 18 running from noon July 19 to 7 p.m. July 23 for 16 counties in northeast, north-central and east-central Kansas, including Shawnee County.
Prolonged heat, including heat indices of up to 107, is expected over that time period in the areas involved, the weather service said in an announcement posted on the website of its Topeka office.
“The warning could be extended through next week if the forecast plays out as expected,” that site said.
The weather service’s Topeka office predicted on its website that the capital city would see temperatures near 100 degrees or higher on five straight days, from July 20 to 24.
What geographic areas does the warning cover?
The warning covers Shawnee, Anderson, Clay, Coffey, Dickinson, Douglas, Franklin, Geary, Jefferson, Lyon, Morris, Osage, Ottawa, Pottawatomi, Riley and Wabaunsee counties.
The weather service also issued an extreme heat watch running from noon July 19 to 7 p.m. July 23 covering seven counties in north-central and northeast Kansas. Those were Brown, Cloud, Jackson, Marshall, Nemaha, Republic and Washington counties.
Prolonged heat, including heat indices of up to 104, could scorch the latter areas, the weather service said.
Areas being put under an extreme heat warning beginning at noon July 20 are shown in purplish pink and areas being put under an extreme heat watch are shown in red in this graphic posted on the website of the National Weather Service’s Topeka office.
Sustained heat forecast for Topeka
The website for the weather service’s Topeka office said temperatures in the capital city were expected to top out near 99 degrees on July 20, near 100 on July 21, near 101 on July 22, 23 and 24 and near 102 on July 25.
Topeka’s highest temperature so far this year has been 97, recorded June 20 and again July 16.
If Topeka were to see five straight days of 100-degree heat, that would be the capital city’s longest such stretch since the mercury reached the century mark here for seven straight days between Aug. 19 and 25, 2023.
Topeka’s highest temperature on record, of 114 degrees was recorded on July 24, 1936.
The weather service has been keeping records in Topeka since 1887.
Weather service urges residents to take precautions
The weather service encouraged residents to wear light and loose-fitting clothing, and to only partake in strenuous outdoor activities during the early morning or evening.
“Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles,” it said. “Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.”
Forecasters also encouraged anyone working outdoors to take frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka begins brutal stretch of temperatures nearing 100 degrees