It’s another day of oppressive heat.
Extreme heat warnings and heat advisories continue for area counties again Monday. The projected high temperature for Emporia is 99 Monday with a peak heat index of 104 after Sunday’s high of 100 and peak heat index reading of 103.
Heat warnings continue until 7 pm Tuesday for Lyon, Coffey, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties. Heat advisories remain in effect for Chase and Greenwood counties until 8 pm. Air temperatures will likely climb to 100 degrees with peak heat index readings up to 104.
Hot and dry conditions may be resetting to seasonal and damp over the next week. Slight chances of showers and storms Monday afternoon will be followed by much better chances of storms Wednesday — good news on the surface, but the National Weather Service Forecast Points information page indicates less than 0.20 inches of rainfall Wednesday into Thursday and up to 0.75 inches of total rainfall through Sunday. With that in mind and with low-level drought recently expanding south of Emporia, Lyon County Extension Horticulturist Travis Carmichael says residents may well be looking to do some extra watering.
Carmichael says residents may need to take action relatively quickly.
Signs of heat-related plant shock include wilting or drooping leaves and stems, as well as leaf rolling, cupping, scorched edges, drops of leaves, blossoms and fruits, stunted growth and what’s called “sunscald” — blister-like patches on exposed fruit and leaves.
The US Drought Monitor has abnormally dry and moderate drought essentially along and south of a line from Elmdale to Matfield Green to Olpe to Burlington.
