Heat index to soar past 100 mark this week; excessive heat warning issued

National Weather Service graphic
National Weather Service graphic

The main weather hazard this week will be the soaring temperatures and oppressive heat indices, according to the National Weather Service.

The heat advisory now has been increased to an excessive heat warning from 1 p.m. today through 10 p.m. July 21.

High temperatures will likely reach well into the 90s each day with heat index values exceeding the century mark in many locations, the weather service said.

Storm chances return again tonight for portions of the region, according to the weather service. Wyandotte County was not part of the area predicted for the storm. While the severe threat is low, some storms may have the potential to become strong, containing gusty winds, hail, dangerous cloud to ground lightning, and moderate to locally heavy rainfall.

Heat indices this afternoon will range from near the century mark across the region to the mid-100s. The values are expected to increase as the week progresses, perhaps approaching the 110 mark toward the latter half of the week, the weather service said.

The weather service advised residents to reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening, to wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing, drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out o the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Today will be sunny with a high near 95, and a heat index value as high as 104, the weather service said. An east wind of 6 to 10 mph will become south southwest in the morning. Tonight, the low will be around 75.

Tuesday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 94, according to the weather service. The heat index will be as high as 102, and there will be a south southwest wind of 5 to 13 mph. Tuesday night, the low will be around 77.

The heat index may be 104 today, according to the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service graphic)
The heat index may be 104 today, according to the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service graphic)

A heat advisory is in effect in the region from 1 p.m. today through 7 p.m. July 22. (National Weather Service graphic)
A heat advisory is in effect in the region from 1 p.m. today through 7 p.m. July 22. (National Weather Service graphic)

Sporting KC falls 1-0 at Colorado Rapids

Sporting Kansas City took its second straight 1-0 defeat on Saturday night, falling to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.

Second-half substitute Marlon Hairston scored the game-winner in the 78th minute, giving the Rapids (10-2-7, 37 points) their third win over Sporting Kansas City (8-10-4, 28 points) this season.

The result drops Sporting Kansas City to sixth place in the Western Conference table and extends Colorado’s club-record unbeaten run to 14 games. The Rapids collected their fifth consecutive win in the regular season series, while Sporting Kansas City’s road winless skid hit nine games.

With his team playing its third game in seven days, Manager Peter Vermes made two changes to the starting lineup from Wednesday’s 1-0 setback at the Chicago Fire.

Lawrence Olum earned his 100th appearance for the club in all competitions, replacing Matt Besler in central defense, while Connor Hallisey made way for Brad Davis on the left side of a three-pronged attack.

Midfielder Roger Espinoza started his 150th regular season match in Kansas City colors, and goalkeeper Tim Melia played his 50th game for the team across all competitions.

A cagey first half produced few scoring opportunities from either side. Colorado forward Shkelzen Gashi delivered a fleeting scare in the 18th minute, but his venomous 25-yard free kick bent narrowly over the crossbar.

The game’s first shot on target came on the half-hour mark courtesy of Dom Dwyer. The English striker received a pass from Benny Feilhaber and blasted a long-range effort straight at U.S. international goalkeeper Tim Howard, who was making his third appearance for Colorado after spending the previous 13 years in the English Premier League.

Vermes was forced to make his first substitution five minutes after the restart when Davis suffered a left calf strain. Hallisey took his place, equaling his rookie total from last season with his 13th MLS appearance of 2016.

Saturday’s contest opened up in the 54th minute when Feilhaber scooped a clever ball into the penalty area for Dwyer, whose acrobatic bicycle kick attempt was saved by Howard. The goalkeeper wasted no time thumping the ball far downfield for Doyle, whose low delivery from the right flank was hammered high by Dillon Powers.

Powers turned provider 11 minutes later, sliding an incisive through ball into the path of Hairston. The midfielder was past Sporting KC’s back line but could not beat Melia, who made a superb reflex save to keep the match scoreless. The hosts continued to gain a foothold in the attacking half and nearly broke through again in the 68th minute, but Ike Opara recovered brilliantly to block Doyle’s shot on the breakaway.

Hairston had made a noticeable impact on proceedings since his 62nd-minute introduction and grabbed the winner with 12 minutes remaining. The 22-year-old intercepted a pass near midfield and played to Powers before settling a return pass 30 yards from goal. Hairston took a touch toward the middle and curled an impressive right-footed strike past the outstretched Melia for his first goal of the campaign.

Colorado went close to doubling their lead three minutes later when Shkelzen Gashi clipped a shot inches wide of the left post after beating Melia to a bouncing ball on the right side of the box.

Seeking a late equalizer, Sporting Kansas City threw numbers forward and were controversially denied a penalty kick in the 92nd minute. Substitute Diego Rubio appeared to have his right leg swiped by Jared Watts, but referee Drew Fischer waved play to continue and blew the full-time whistle two minutes later.

Sporting Kansas City returns home next Sunday to be the host of perennial playoff contender Seattle Sounders FC (6-10-2, 20 points) at Children’s Mercy Park. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. and the match will be televised nationally on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. A limited number of tickets for the Western Conference clash are available atTicketmaster.com or by calling 888-4KC-GOAL.

– Story from Sporting KC

Opinion: Nonviolent approach needed toward solving problems

Sometimes we think it goes without saying that we support nonviolence, the police, the community and individual members of the community.

But in these times, we are finding that we need to say it again.

We support people sitting down and talking over their differences; we do not support violence against anyone.

There have been tragedies this summer involving snipers shooting at police in other communities, and of police shooting suspects in other communities. The killings sadden the nation, and are unnecessary.

We don’t see spending more money as necessarily the solution to this situation. Rather, better communication with the community will probably solve problems.

Kansas City, Kan., and Wyandotte County are to be commended for their efforts to have a dialogue with the community last year on important topics involving the police and minority communities here, leading to substantial changes in hiring, promotion and policies.

A sad thing about some of the recent violence in other communities is that some of those communities also had good records when it came to their relationship with minorities, but protesters were angry about events that had happened in other communities.

Local leaders at all levels should emphasize nonviolence and dialogue, and residents need to commit themselves to work to solve problems without violence.