Have you heard of a “heat burst”? In meteorology, a heat burst is a rare atmospheric phenomenon characterized by gusty winds and a rapid increase in temperature and decrease in dew point (moisture). Heat bursts typically occur during night-time and are associated with decaying thunderstorms. This can produce strong winds. Overnight from June 15th – June 16th, just such an event occurred in the Kansas River Valley. Coinciding with the strong winds, a non-diurnal temperature change occurred, along with a drop in moisture. From 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., temperatures rose anywhere from 10-15 degrees F and relative humidity levels dropped more than 60-70%.
Mary Knapp, Weather Data Library
mknapp@ksu.edu