The same region that spent the weekend dodging flash floods will spend Tuesday dodging dangerous heat, as a broad ridge of high pressure pushes heat index values to potentially dangerous levels across Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois.
Seven National Weather Service offices have issued coordinated Heat Advisories in effect Tuesday — most running from noon to 9 or 10 PM CDT — covering dozens of counties and tens of millions of people across the central United States.
A Heat Index of 108 Across a Wide Arc
The highest heat index values are forecast across two population centers. The NWS Kansas City office is calling for heat index values up to 108°F across portions of the Kansas City metro and surrounding counties in Kansas and Missouri — including Overland Park, Olathe, Kansas City, Independence, Shawnee, and Lenexa.
The NWS St. Louis office is forecasting the same 108°F heat index for the St. Louis metro and surrounding Missouri and Illinois counties, including St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson City and Belleville.
Just behind those peaks, the Topeka office is warning of up to 107°F across east-central Kansas — Lawrence, Topeka, Manhattan, Junction City, Emporia — and the Omaha office is calling for 107°F across eastern Nebraska and southwestern Iowa, including Omaha, Lincoln, Council Bluffs and Bellevue. The Springfield and Des Moines offices round out the advisory coverage with heat indexes up to 104–105°F through Tuesday evening, with the Springfield area’s advisory extending into early Wednesday morning.
Five States Under Alert
Kansas — from the Nebraska border south through the Flint Hills and Ozark border, including the entire Kansas City metro, Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan and southeast Kansas through Coffeyville and Parsons.
Missouri — from the Iowa border south through Springfield, Joplin, Branson and the Ozarks, including Kansas City, St. Louis and Jefferson City.
Iowa — central and western Iowa including Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Carroll and Boone.
Nebraska — eastern and southeastern Nebraska including Omaha, Lincoln, Columbus and Norfolk, along with portions of southwest Iowa.
Illinois — portions of southwest Illinois in the St. Louis metro zone, including Belleville and Edwardsville.
Heat Is the Deadliest Weather Hazard
Excessive heat is the number-one weather-related killer in the United States, responsible for an average of 138 deaths per year over a 30-year period — more than tornadoes, hurricanes or floods in most years. Tuesday’s heat event is a single-day advisory rather than a prolonged heat wave, but the high heat index values combined with elevated humidity make the threat real.
The risk is highest for people who spend extended time outdoors, children and the elderly, people without access to air conditioning, and anyone doing physical work in the heat. “Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1,” the NWS Topeka office stated in its bulletin. Symptoms include hot, red, dry or damp skin; rapid pulse; confusion; and loss of consciousness.
Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes — never leave children, elderly adults or pets in an unattended vehicle under any circumstances.
How to Stay Safe on Tuesday
NWS offices across the region advised the same set of precautions: drink water before you feel thirsty, stay in air-conditioned spaces during the peak afternoon hours from noon to 9 PM, wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing, limit strenuous outdoor activity to early morning or after sunset, and check on neighbors — especially elderly residents — who may not have reliable air conditioning.
The OSHA heat safety guidelines recommend frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments for outdoor workers. Any worker overcome by heat should be moved to a cool location immediately and 911 called if symptoms of heat stroke appear.
