The record heat seen this past weekend across the KVOE listening area won’t end any time soon.
A heat warning remains in effect for all area counties and now has been extended through Thursday evening. There is some relief in sight, but not until this upcoming weekend. Here’s TV-13 meteorologist Doug Meyers:
High temperatures might not be quite as hot for the rest of the week, but the highs are still expected to be between 100-105 all week and heat index readings may get to 110-plus at times.
8:30 pm Sunday: Back-to-back 110-degree days at Emporia Airport, prospect of more extreme heat causes schedule adjustments areawide
After two days of record-breaking heat and more extreme heat expected all week, there have been some schedule adjustments announced.
Emporia Main Street’s Welcome Back Block Party on Monday is moving from the north end of Commercial Street to White Auditorium. Main Street Director Casey Woods tells KVOE News there were some concerns about having hundreds of students from Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College, business representatives and others downtown at the end of Monday’s peak heating, with temperatures near 105 expected. Woods says City Manager Trey Cocking and Facilities Manager Kevin Hanlin opened the doors to White Auditorium for the event.
KVOE will broadcast from the event Monday evening. The Block Party goes from 5:30-7 pm. L-Cat will be giving rides to Emporia State students starting at 4:30 p.m. and going in 20-minute intervals. The pickup location is on the east side of the Memorial Union with the drop-off point being at the north doors of White Auditorium. The last round of rides from White Auditorium back to Emporia State will be at 8 p.m.
Meanwhile:
*Emporia High has adjusted its athletics practices schedule, moving those practices either to the morning or indoors all week.
*USD 251 North Lyon County has announced its practices for cross country, football and volleyball will be from 6-8 am Monday through Wednesday, with the rest of the week’s schedule to be determined.
*USD 330 Mission Valley has several adjustments, with high school football practicing from 6:15-7:45 am Monday through Wednesday, cross country at 7 am all week and volleyball practicing after school Monday and starting at 7:30 am Tuesday.
*USD 456 Marais des Cygnes Valley is moving its football practices to 7-9 pm all week, with other fall sports on their normal practice schedules.
The heat this weekend led to one heat exposure call — around 11:15 am Sunday to the Emporia Golf Course during the Flint Hills Beef Fest golf tournament. That person declined a trip to the hospital afterward.
Both weekend days saw new record high temperatures for the Emporia and Eureka airports, the official reporting stations for the National Weather Service:
For Emporia, Sunday’s high of 110 topped the prior daily record of 103 set in 2001 and followed Saturday’s high of 112, above the prior record of 102 set in 2003. Saturday was also the hottest day for the airport since August 2, 2011, and just missed the city’s unofficial record high of 115 set July 14, 1954.
For Eureka, Sunday got as hot as 111 degrees, eclipsing the prior record of 105 dating back to 2011. Saturday’s air temperature climbed to 110, beating the previous daily record of 106 set back in 1936.
Peak heat index readings actually stayed slightly below the high temperatures both days.
High temperatures might not be quite as hot for the rest of the week, but the highs are still expected to be between 100-105 all week and heat index readings may get to 110-plus at times. A heat warning remains in effect for all area counties through Wednesday evening.
Click here for a list of schedule adjustments and cooling centers, both for Emporia and the entire KVOE listening area. If you need to add to either list, call KVOE at 620-342-1400, email kvoe@kvoe.com or message the Bluestem Farm and Ranch text line at 620-342-5863.
9:45 am Sunday: Emporia, Eureka reset unofficial high temperature records for Saturday and may do so Sunday
After a record-setting day for Emporia’s high temperatures, similar conditions are expected Sunday.
High temperatures Saturday hit 112 at the Emporia Municipal Airport, beating the prior daily record high of 102 set in 2003. In fact, the airport had the daily record surpassed before noon, when temperatures hit 104.
If there was any consolation, heat index readings were actually lower than the air temperature, peaking at 110.
For Emporia, it was the hottest day since August 2, 2011, and just missed the city’s unofficial record high of 115 set July 14, 1954.
Eureka’s Milliken Airport got as high as 109 with a peak heat index reading of 110 Saturday. That tops the previous daily high of 106 degrees set in 1936.
Eureka’s records date earlier than Emporia’s, reflecting the heat of the Great Depression, whereas Emporia’s records only go back to 1950. Eureka’s all-time high is 120 degrees on July 18, 1936.
With the record temperature comparisons in mind from Saturday, records could be reset again Sunday. Emporia is projected to hit 108, which would top the 103-degree mark set in 2001. Eureka is set to hit 107, which would break the 105-degree high on the books since 2011.
The Weather Service also says this could well be the longest period of high temperatures at or above 100 degrees since 2011, with highs now expected to be at or above 100 through Friday before temperatures approach 90 for Saturday.
