By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
The region is bracing for several more days of near record
heat, a weather pattern meteorologists say could last several days.
Both National Weather Service offices in Dodge City and Goodland have forecast 100 degree temperatures for the next seven to 10 days for the western half of the state. Officials with the Goodland office said several locations in western Kansas could come close to setting new record high temperatures.
Meteorologist Dan Holiday with The Storm Report said the current weather setup is not unusual for this time of year but the temperatures are above normal.
“Typically this time of year, we would be in the 90s for a high, but we are soaring well above average,” Holiday said.
He said a high pressure ridge centered over the four corners region of Colorado, Utah and part of Arizona and New Mexico is expanding into the plains.
“When that happens, it brings that much warmer, dry air,” Holiday said. “It will be sending temperatures into the triple-digit range.”
Holiday said the Hays area could even see temperatures between 105 and 110 on Friday.
There is a weak cool front that is expected to move into the region Saturday but Holiday said the relief will be short lived with temperatures climbing back into the 100s.
“That stretch of Sunday into Tuesday (or) Wednesday of next week looks very hot,” Holiday said. “We already have an exceptional drought over parts of west-central and southwest Kansas, (and) it just doesn’t like we’re going to get any type of a break here throughout the next seven to 10 days.”
Holiday said that the Climate Prediction Center says the above average temperatures and below average precipitation is expected to continue through the month of July.
He said if the high pressure system were to shift a little to the south and west, the area could see a change in the weather pattern that could bring much-needed rain along with thunderstorms out of the high plains of Wyoming and Colorado and into northwest Kansas.
The current round of hot weather doesn’t have the high humidity with it like earlier this year, according to Holiday. He said there are still dangers surrounding the near record high temperatures.
Ellis County Emergency Services Director Danita Schroeder said that while most people across the region are acclimated to the hot weather, it’s still important to be on the lookout for the symptoms a person is getting overheated.
Those symptoms include muscle cramps, which Schroeder said usually is a sign of dehydration or not taking in enough fluids.
She also said people she be mindful of the symptoms of heat exhaustion.
“You’re sweaty, you’re dizzy, you’re nauseated, you may be vomiting (and) sometimes they pass out” Schroeder said. “In that case, get inside, get some fluids (and) try to cool down.”
Schroeder said to place wet towels on the back of the neck or armpits and sit in front of a fan.
If the condition is bad enough, you could possibly experience a heat stroke.
“A heat stroke is when they pass out completely. They may have seizures, and they may be extremely disoriented,” Schroeder said.
Schroeder said placing icepacks on the back of the neck or armpits can help with a potential heat stroke as well.
If the symptoms don’t improve and the person is still vomiting and disoriented, that is the time to call an ambulance or get to the hospital, Schroeder said.
Schroeder said during the periods of extreme hot weather they stress the importance of water.
“Drink lots of water,” Schroeder said. “I don’t know how to stress that enough … just drink plenty of fluid.”
They also encourage people to avoid being outside during the peak hours of the heat.
“We try to encourage people to do their work outside in the mornings,” Schroeder said. “If it's really hot outside in the afternoon, just stay inside.”
Cover image courtesy Pixabay