It's been hot in Topeka — especially for September.
The National Weather Service reported the mercury soared to 103 degrees Sept. 8 at its Topeka office, bringing the capital city its highest temperature this year.
Sept. 8 also became the 11th straight day in which Topeka temperatures had reached 99 degrees or more. Topeka's heat index for the day reached 107.
But forecasters said a cool front was expected to soon move through the area, ending the heat wave.
Seven people were treated for heat-related illnesses between Friday, Sept. 4, and Monday, Sept. 7, in the emergency room at Topeka's Stormont Vail Health, said Taylor Bugg, marketing and communications specialist for Stormont Vail.
No patients with heat-related problems were seen on those days at the University of Kansas Health System's St. Francis campus in Topeka, said Terri Benson, spokeswoman for that facility.
Still, that hospital's emergency room had treated four patients for complaints related to heat exposure between Aug. 29 and Sept. 3, she said.
As far as Shawnee County emergency management knows, Shawnee County hasn't seen any heat-related deaths this year, said Dusty Nichols, that agency's director.
Washburn University drew national attention Sept. 5 when officials stopped its home football game at Yager Stadium against Colorado School of Mines due to the extreme-heat rules of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
The game normally would have gone to overtime after the two teams remained tied 16-16 at the end of regulation, but officials declared it a tie.
That's because the MIAA requires play to be stopped when any wet bulb temperature reaches above 92.1 degrees, with the game being unable to continue until the temperature drops back down to a safer level.
This month is on pace to potentially break Topeka's record high average temperature for September, of 77.6 degrees.
That was recorded in 1931, said Chelsea Picha, a meteorologist for the weather service's Topeka office.
Topeka's average temperature for the first eight days of this month was 86.4 degrees, said the website of the weather service's Topeka office.
Still, forecasters predicted less oppressive weather was on the way.
The weather service predicts the following:
Sunny skies with highs around 86 on Sept. 10 and 91 on Sept. 11.
A high around 87 and a 60% chance of rain on Sept. 12. The weather service's Topeka office saw no measurable precipitation from Aug. 22 until 0.01 inch of rain fell there Sept. 8, its records show.
A high near 85 and a 40% chance of rain on Sept. 13.
A high around 87 and a 40% chance of rain on Sept. 14.
A high near 79 and a 30% chance of rain on Sept. 15.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at 785-213-5934 or [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka sees 11th straight day of 99-degree temperatures