Kansas City Braces for Unseasonably Warm Temperatures and Elevated Fire Conditions

Kansas City Weather Takes a Wild Turn with Unseasonably Warm Temperatures

Welcome to a rather interesting weather period here in Kansas City! It feels like we’re on a roller coaster ride when it comes to temperatures lately, and it looks like this unseasonally warm weather is here to stay for a bit. The National Weather Service has come out with the forecast, and it’s safe to say you might want to trade those light jackets for something a little more summery.

What’s in Store for Today?

As we finish up the week, you can expect afternoon highs to be a delightful 5-15 degrees above what’s typical for this time of year. To give you a clearer picture, folks living north of I-70 should be basking in the mid to upper 70s, while those south of I-70 might experience peaks hitting the low to mid-80s. Right here in the Kansas City metro area, we’re looking at a cozy 81 degrees—definitely a jump from the usual 72 degrees we see around this time.

Get Ready for a Hot Weekend!

Now, if you thought today was warm, brace yourself for the weekend! The temperatures are poised to rise even further, possibly reaching an impressive 20 degrees above average in some areas. Exciting, right? The Kansas City area could hit the low 90s on Saturday, which might make it one of the hottest October 5ths in history. Just to throw some numbers your way, the record for that date stands at 97 degrees, set back in 1963. We’ve also seen heat in the past with temperatures of 93 degrees in 1938 and 91 degrees in 1947.

Watch Out for Elevated Fire Conditions

With that warm, dry air rolling in, we need to keep an eye on fire weather conditions. Thanks to wind gusts reaching 25-35 mph, the forecasts indicate elevated fire weather conditions, particularly for areas west of I-35. So, if you were planning any outdoor activities that involve fire, it might be wise to exercise a little caution.

What About Rain?

As we step into this warm spell, we can’t help but notice that it follows a rather dry September. Kansas City hasn’t had any measurable rain in the last nine days, which means the area is currently facing a bit of a moderate drought. Although there’s a cold front expected to come through on Sunday, it looks like it won’t be bringing any rain with it to assist in easing our drought concerns. However, some cooler air should filter in, making the afternoon highs fall back to near-normal for those areas north of the metro. Expect around 78 degrees in Kansas City on Sunday.

Into Next Week

Come Monday, we’re back to a smoother temperature experience with a refreshing 74 degrees expected. It’s sounds like the perfect time to enjoy a nice walk or perhaps a picnic! For the rest of the week, thankfully, we can look forward to relatively tranquil weather. Expect temperatures to hover around the upper 70s to lower 80s, but Thursday might be the pick of the week with the hottest temperatures.

What’s Ahead?

Looking at the longer forecast, it appears that above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall are here to stay, at least for the week of October 11 to 17. So, if you’re planning on outdoor activities, be prepared for the warmth and keep that water bottle handy! Overall, these dry conditions and warm spells could stick around, so let’s enjoy this unusual October while keeping safety in mind.

We’ll keep an eye on the forecast as it unfolds, but for now, enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather!