Northeast Kansas this week is seeing high humidity and record-breaking heat. More is expected.
A double whammy of heat and humidity has broken two Topeka temperature records and is creating potentially dangerous conditions this week in northeast Kansas.
"A persistent heat wave is highly likely through at least the middle of next week," the weather service's Topeka office said on its Facebook page.
"Boo," Courtney K. Howell wrote in response. "Make it go away!"
Two Topeka temperature records fall
Topeka temperatures bottomed out at 80 degrees Monday and at 82 degrees Tuesday, setting records for the highest minimum temperatures recorded here on June 13 and June 14, the weather service said.
Topeka temperatures topped out Tuesday at 94 degrees.
"Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses like exhaustion and cramps to occur," the weather service said in a heat advisory it issued for that day.
Topeka was anticipated to see highs around 93 degrees Wednesday, 95 degrees Thursday and 97 degrees Friday.
"The hot conditions look to continue for the next several days, with heat indices reaching the upper 90s to around 105 likely," said a graphic posted Tuesday on the website of the weather service's Topeka office.
"The outlook for the early to middle portions of next week shows high confidence for above normal temperatures," it added.
More: Could rising temperatures across Kansas lead to rolling blackouts this summer?
Heat wave sweeps nation; a third of U.S. population affected
Topekans aren't alone. Dangerous and potentially record-breaking heat is expected to affect about a third of the nation's population this week, according to the weather service.
"A dome of high pressure is expected to generate well above-normal to record-breaking temperatures across the region both today and tomorrow," it said early Tuesday. "This heat, combined with high humidity, will likely produce heat indices well into the triple digits in many locations."
The heat wave comes after Topeka temperatures rose from 81 Thursday to 86 Friday to 94 Saturday, then fell to 93 Sunday before topping out at 100 on Monday.
That was below the city's record high temperature for June 13 of 107, set in 1953.
The Kansas Department of Transportation announced Monday that recent heat was partly responsible for 60 feet of a barrier wall's falling to the ground Saturday from Interstate 70's Polk-Quincy Viaduct, which passes through downtown Topeka.
Topeka appeared unlikely Tuesday or Wednesday to break its record high temperatures for those dates of 100 for June 14, set in 1936, and 104 for June 15, set in 1946.
The weather service doesn't keep official heat index records.
Topeka residents urged to take precautions from heat
The weather service's Topeka office on Twitter encouraged residents during times of hot weather to never leave people or pets alone in a closed car; drink plenty of water, even if they don't feel thirsty; wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing; and spend time in the shade and in air-conditioned buildings.
"Warm temperatures can quickly rise to dangerous levels — especially in the summer and in parked cars," it said.
The weather service office in Kansas City, Mo./Pleasant Hill, Mo., noted Monday on Twitter that it was getting reports of power outages in that area. It encouraged residents during outages to check the welfare of other people, particularly those most vulnerable.
Evergy reported on its power outage map that Topeka as of 11:30 a.m. Tuesday was seeing 15 power outages affecting 45 homes and businesses.
Tim Hrenchir can be reached at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka, NE Kansas under heat advisory as high temperatures in forecast
