Near-record March heat fuels fire danger across Kansas City region
Unusual, potentially record-breaking heat for early spring is making Kansas City feel like summer Saturday.
The National Weather Service forecast shows the high temperature could reach 93 degrees at the Kansas City International Airport.
That would be the warmest temperature recorded in March for Kansas City dating back to 1888, the weather service said.
“This is really exceptional heat for this time of year,” meteorologists said in a Saturday morning weather discussion.
According to the weather service, the record high temperature for March 21 in Kansas City is 91 degrees, recorded in 1907.
In addition to the heat, red flag warnings are in effect for portions of northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri. Relative humidity values are as low as 15%, meaning the dry air and heat combine to create dangerous fire weather conditions.
The weather service advises against outdoor burns Saturday, as fires could spread rapidly with wind gusts as high as 25 mph possible.
East of the red flag warning areas, where winds will be lighter in central and eastern Missouri, there are still elevated to near-critical fire weather conditions, according to the weather service.
Sunday temperature drops
A cold front moves into the Kansas City metro Sunday, bringing a noticeable shift in temperatures 30 degrees cooler in just one day. The high temperature forecast for Kansas City on Sunday is 72 degrees.
Despite the temperature drop, gusty winds are forecast to stick around. Winds around 30 mph are possible.
The weekend is anticipated to stay sunny and clear with no precipitation in the forecast.
Then to begin the work week, temperatures are expected to level off to more seasonable norms. A high near 60 degrees is forecast Monday.
