KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WNAX) – If forecast trends hold, the rest of July could be hot and dry across much of the northern plains.

Doug Kluck, Central Region Climate Services Director for the National Weather Service in Kansas City, says it’s the hottest time of the year anyway.

Kluck says the humidity will help push the heat index.

Kluck says it will be tough for any rain to break into the hot areas.

Kluck says they expect drought areas to expand across western parts of the region through the month.