Heading back toward Colorado today, we left Columbia under sunny skies with a temperature in the mid 70s F. Pleasant conditions persisted through Missouri and eastern Kansas but, west of Salina, the temperature began to climb. Fueled by a strong south wind, it reached 104 degrees F (per a Hays, Kansas, bank) or 109 degrees F (per our car thermometer). Once we were outside the vehicle, the steady wind produced a blast furnace effect.
Perusing the National weather map, we appear to be in the hottest bubble outside of the Desert Southwest. Though I have no documentation, I cannot remember being immersed in such hot air at any time in my life (and that's a lot of time).
We'll set out early in the morning to complete our journey before the afternoon sun takes its toll. Unfortunately, this is just a warmup (no pun intended) for summers to come. Then again, perhaps our Dear Leader is correct and climate change is a cruel Liberal hoax!
