Heat — Jackson, Missouri

1999-07-18 to 1999-07-31 · Jackson, Missouri

Wider weather episode

Northwest Missouri suffered through two weeks of oppressive heat and humidity in late July as temperatures topped the 90 degree mark for 14 consecutive days. Dew points in the lower to middle 70s pushed afternoon heat indices above 100 degrees each day. The heat wave was most intense from July 23rd through the 30th, as temperatures reached the upper 90s or topped 100 degrees for 8 consecutive days, with afternoon heat indices between 110 and 115 degrees. Kansas City's downtown airport recorded 7 straight 100 degree days, peaking at 106 on July 29. Adding to the deadly effects of the heat was the lack of nighttime cooling, especially in the urban areas. Overnight temperatures in downtown Kansas City did not drop below 78 degrees for a 13-day period, and nighttime heat indices remained in the 80s. The heat wave claimed a total of 22 lives in northwest Missouri. Most of the victims were elderly, and 16 of the fatalities occurred in the urban core of Kansas City. The other heat-related deaths occurred outside Kansas City in Jackson County (one death), and in Cass (2 deaths), Bates (1), Buchanan (1), and Harrison (1) Counties.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5706658. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.