The National Weather Service hsa issued a wind advisory from 10:17 a.m. through 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 7.
Winds may gust up to 40 mph, according to the forecast.
Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects, and tree limbs could be blown down, resulting in a few power outages, the weather service said
Also, travel on north-south oriented roads such as I-29 and I-35, could be difficult or dangerous for high-profile vehicles, due to strong crosswinds, according to the weather service.
Residents were advised to use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high-profile vehicle, and secure outdoor objects, the weather service said.
Because of strong northwest winds on Thursday, the National Weather Service discourages open burning. The minimum humidity will be around 42 percent. (National Weather Service graphic)On Friday night and Saturday morning, the low could be below freezing in Wyandotte County. (National Weather Service graphic)
Today’s forecast from the National Weather Service calls for a high near 50, with high winds and a 20 percent chance of showers tonight.
Temperatures will drop to a low of 34 tonight, and on Friday night, it will be freezing, with a low around 28, the weather service said.
A hard freeze is forecast for Saturday morning, and residents who have sensitive outdoor vegetation should make plans to protect them from the freezing temperatures, according to the weather service.
Temperatures will rise to the mid-70s on Sunday.
Strong northwest winds will continue on Thursday, gusting as high as 40 mph, the weather service said. Relative humidity will improve to 40 to 50 percent for Thursday. Rapid fire growth is still possible, given the wind speeds, so outdoor burning is still discouraged, according to the weather service. Winds are expected to decrease to 20 to 30 mph for Friday.
The weather service said there are increasing chances for strong thunderstorms in the early to middle part of next week. Rain is in the forecast each day from Sunday night through Wednesday.
Today, there will be increasing clouds, with a high near 50, the weather service said. A northwest wind of 16 to 25 mph may gust as high as 40 mph.
Tonight, there is a 20 percent chance of showers before midnight, according to the weather service. The low will be around 34. A northwest wind of 14 to 18 mph will gust as high as 33 mph.
Friday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 49, the weather service said. A northwest wind of 15 to 18 mph will gust as high as 29 mph.
Friday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 28, according to the weather service. A northwest wind of 5 to 11 mph will gust as high as 18 mph.
Saturday, it will be sunny, with a high near 61, the weather service said. A light and variable wind will become northwest around 6 mph in the morning.
Saturday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 43, according to the weather service.
Sunday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 76, the weather service said.
Sunday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers after 1 a.m., with a low of 50, according to the weather service.
Monday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 70, the weather service said.
Monday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers, with a low of 51, according to the weather service.
Tuesday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers, with a high near 77, the weather service said.
Tuesday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers with a low of 58, according to the weather service.
Wednesday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers with a high near 73, the weather service said.
The Board of Public Utilities’ cold weather rule was the subject of a discussion on Wednesday evening.
No action was taken after a BPU committee discussed the policy.
A resident, Jared Emmons, brought the policy issue to the board in recent months. He said the BPU’s policy is different from the Kansas Corporation Commission’s cold weather rule.
BPU’s policy says it will not disconnect residential customers when it is 32 degrees or below for 24 hours, while the KCC’s rule was 35 degrees for 48 hours.
Board member Jeff Bryant said if a house was disconnected when the temperature is 32 degrees or 40 degrees, it didn’t make much difference as it would still be cold. He thought they could ask water department staff for their opinion on temperatures when pipes freeze, and use that as the temperature for the disconnection policy.
BPU officials said the BPU’s disconnection procedure was longer than other area utilities. Notices start going out and 25 days later, BPU can disconnect if the weather is not too cold.
Customers faced with disconnection can make payment arrangements with the BPU, and if they don’t, then the utility can disconnect them, according to BPU officials.
Bryant said he thought that other utilities require a payment arrangement to be in place for the customer to qualify for the cold weather policy.
Disconnections are now done electronically, according to BPU officials.
Bryant said if the BPU updates the cold weather policy, customers should be reminded that they can make or post a payment online electronically. That could get the power turned back on the same day.
To get their electric service restored, customers have to pay all past due fees, bills and penalties, plus a deposit if necessary, according to the BPU’s current policy. If they call the BPU and make payment arrangements before their service is disconnected, then they avoid the reconnection fees.
Bryant and BPU committee members discussed requiring customers to go on a payment arrangement if they had a disconnection notice two or three times in a year. Bryant said that every time a customer’s utilities are disconnected, there are also soft costs to the utility in accounting, customer service and billing, creating more costs that have to be paid. These costs are passed on to the rest of the BPU’s customers, according to Bryant.
Board member Bob Milan said it was his opinion that the customer has the responsibility to pay the bill. The customer has the responsibility to notify the BPU and make arrangements so the customer will not be cut off, he said.
Emmons said during the public comment time at the regular BPU meeting that the KCC rule is not contingent on having a payment plan in place.
Also, he asked for information on supporting data and analysis of a previous staff presentation projecting BPU revenue losses if the rule was changed to the KCC version. He had made that request a few weeks previously, and did not get the information requested.
According to BPU members, the discussion on the cold weather policy will be continued at another later meeting. They are not currently under the cold weather policy, as it ends each March 31.
The BPU’s current cold weather policy states: During the period of Nov. 1 through March 31, BPU will not disconnect residential electric customers for nonpayment of bills when the National Weather Service forecasts the temperature will remain at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 hours. BPU will check the weather forecasts daily between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Water service can be disconnected at any time.
The policy also states that to avoid being disconnected, a customer must contact BPU to check eligibility and establish a payment arrangement.
The BPU also has a hot weather rule that states that during the summer, or any day when the National Weather Service forecasts the temperature will rise above 95 degrees, or the heat index will rise above 105 degrees, BPU will not disconnect electric service for nonpayment of bills.
