Wichita to see 100-plus-degree days this week. See forecast and when to expect the heat

Meteorologists expect Wednesday and Thursday to bring Wichita’s first 100-degree days of the year.

The National Weather service forecast shows a high of 103 degrees Wednesday and 102 degrees Thursday. If temperatures reach the forecast highs this week, they will exceed the current high for the year, which is 95 degrees.

Wednesday will see partly cloudy skies with a low of 75 degrees, according to the NWS forecast as of Tuesday morning. Wind gusts are expected to reach a high of 24 miles per hour. Thursday, meanwhile, will see mostly sunny skies with a low of 77 degrees. The NWS reports wind gusts reaching 25 miles per hour and partly cloudy skies that night.

The last 100-degree day recorded in Wichita was Sept. 21, 2022. NWS forecaster Andy Kleinsasser said reaching this heat at this time of year is expected.

“Our average first 100-degree day each year is usually sometime kind of very late June into early July, so we’re right on target,” he said.

While the highs are hitting dangerous levels, the expected wind and low humidity will make the heat a little more bearable, Kleinsasser said.

“Hot weather with a little bit of wind is easier on the body, and it looks like our humidity won’t be horrible. It’s going to be a little humid, but dew points are going to be 50s to low 60s,” he said. “It doesn’t look like a really muggy kind of forecast.”

Wednesday and Thursday are not expected to break any temperature records, Kleinsasser said. The highest temperature reached June 28 in the area was 106 degrees in 2012, while the highest June 29 was 105 degrees in 1998.

How to stay cool in Wichita’s hot weather

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports extreme heat is the cause of more than 700 deaths around the country every year. When high temperatures are expected, it’s important to be prepared and have a plan to stay healthy.

Here are some tips, from the CDC:

• Stay in air-conditioned locations
• Stay hydrated and drink water even if you’re not thirsty
• Schedule outdoor activities mindfully
• Take cool showers or baths
• Wear light-weight clothing
• Use the stove and oven less
• Check in on friends
• Have someone check in on you

If you run or play sports outdoors, the CDC recommends you schedule those activities earlier in the day to avoid the highest temperatures.

It’s also important to know the signs of a heat-related illness and contact your physician if you experience them, the CDC says. Symptoms of a heat-related illness include:

• High body temperature
• Fast pulse
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Heavy sweating
• Fast pulse
• Weakness

This story was originally published June 26, 2023 at 3:53 PM.

Lindsay Smith

The Wichita Eagle

Lindsay Smith is a suburban news reporter for the Wichita Eagle, covering the communities of Andover, Bel Aire, Derby, Haysville and Kechi. She has been on The Eagle staff since 2022 and was the service journalism reporter for three years. She has a degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism from Wichita State, where she was editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Sunflower, for two years. You can reach her via email at lsmith@wichitaeagle.com.