Barton County officials joined with state agencies to bring attention to the threats from weather in the coming spring season.
The Barton County Commission set this as Severe Weather Awareness Week.
According to information from Emergency Risk Manager Amy Miller, March 12 through March 16, “is a joint effort of the National Weather Service, Kansas Division of Emergency Management, Kansas Emergency Management Association and County Emergency Managers throughout the state of Kansas. 
“This Proclamation encourages individuals and businesses to prepare for severe weather and to participate in the Statewide Tornado Drill on March 13. According to state information, it was noted that “dangerous” weather events are not the only issues that face Kansas, and 2011 showed that there are other types of dangers other than storms.
“The temperature at the Wichita Mid-Continent Airport soared to 100 degrees on May 9, 2011. This was the earliest the temperature has reached 100 degrees in Wichita.
According to the state information, the other earliest dates that the state reached 100 included May 10, 1967; May 23, 1996; May 25, 1962 and May 29, 1913.
According to the Kansas Emergency Management Association information, last summer saw another weird heat-related event.
“An unusual heat burst occurred shortly after midnight on June 9, 2011, across the Wichita area. The temperature jumped some 15 to 20 degrees in a matter of 15 to 20 minutes, rising from the low to mid 80s to around 102 degrees. The sudden rise in the thermometer was accompanied by a downburst of winds that
gusted to near 60 mph in some locations.
“The heat burst was first noted on the west side of the city around 12:30 am. “The temperature rose from 85 degrees at 12:22 a.m. at the Mid-Continent airport to 102 degrees at 12:42 a.m.
“Winds gusted to around 45 mph. Several other observations across the west side showed a temperature jump into the mid to upper 90s.
“The heat burst shifted to the east side of the city after 1 a.m.”