photo by: National Weather Service Topeka

Although Monday storms brought nearly two inches of rain to Lawrence, heat indexes across parts of Kansas are expected to be near the 110 degree-range as the National Weather Service issued a heat warning until Wednesday afternoon.

While Monday morning thunderstorms brought nearly two inches of rain to Lawrence, the National Weather Service has issued a heat warning until Wednesday evening as temperatures are expected to climb.

Although chances of more rain are small for Kansas the rest of Monday, the morning storms brought 1.78 inches of precipitation, according to the National Weather Service data gathered at the Lawrence Regional Airport.

Along with storms from early Thursday morning that brought between 3 to 5 inches of rain across the region as the Journal-World reported, this rainfall means Lawrence exceeded its normal average rainfall of 3.94 inches for the month of July.

A meteorologist with the weather service told the Journal-World the next chance for rain will be between Thursday and Friday, with chances for storms more likely around Thursday night.

Lawrence residents might get some reprieve from rain, but there won’t be any reprieve from the heat over the next couple days. The NWS has issued an extreme heat warning across portions of central, east central, north central and northeast Kansas that will last until 7 p.m. Wednesday. Heat indexes during the day on Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be around 105 degrees, and some regions under the heat warning will hit heat indexes of 110.

As part of the heat warning, the NWS suggests taking extra precautions to reduce heat-related illnesses, including trying to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening and taking action if you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. According to the weather service, symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating; weakness or tiredness; cool, pale, clammy skin; fast, weak pulse; muscle cramps; dizziness, nausea or vomiting; headache and fainting. Symptoms of heat stroke include throbbing headache; confusion; slurred speech; nausea; dizziness; body temperature above 103°F; hot, red, dry or damp skin; rapid and strong pulse and loss of consciousness.

Although heat indexes are expected to cool off slightly Thursday and Friday, the heat is expected to pick back up again over the weekend and into next week.