Dangerous Heat Rages On

Though afternoon high temperatures will be slightly "cooler" for some of you, high humidity levels persist, leading to dangerous heat indices between 105 and 110 degrees.  A new HEAT ADVISORY has been issued for counties in central and eastern Oklahoma until 7 AM Saturday.  Therefore, we continue to urge you to be prepared for extreme heat and limit or avoid outdoor activities through the end of this week.  In addition to the heat, isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are again a possibility this afternoon due to an unstable environment.  Please remain weather aware.

Yesterday proved to be an active day, especially across parts of central and eastern Oklahoma as strong to severe storms fired up ahead of a cold front.  This, in turn, caused dramatic temperature drops from the triple-digits to as low as the 80s.  Currently, we have a cold front/stationary front that stretches from northwest Oklahoma to southeast Oklahoma.  You can see this on the Surface Analysis to the right, provided by the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center.  Areas behind the front will see slightly cooler high temperatures this afternoon and no chance for thunderstorm development while areas directly ahead of the front have another chance of seeing strong to severe thunderstorms develop later today.  **Please note: This surface analysis is valid as of 8:30 AM and will NOT update automatically.  To see the latest surface analysis, please click here.

For today, high temperatures remain in the triple-digits in the panhandle and southwestern Oklahoma.  Across northwest, central, and southeast Oklahoma, expect highs in the upper-90s.  In northeast Oklahoma behind the front, expect highs in the low-to-mid-90s.  High humidity values, leading to dangerous heat indices, will be present in central and southeast Oklahoma where the heat advisory is in effect.  Expect a heat index near 105 degrees in central Oklahoma and a heat index near 110 degrees in southeast Oklahoma.

Again, thunderstorm development is likely across all of the state except the northeast later this afternoon.  These storms may be strong to severe in nature, providing threats of wind gusts near or over 60 mph, frequent lightning, and brief heavy rainfall.  Keep an eye on the sky and remain weather aware so that you can take proper action should a dangerous thunderstorm affect your area.  Storms may continue through the evening hours.

For tomorrow (Friday), the cold front will move southward, but we will not feel the cool air just yet. The heat continues as the heat advisory remains in effect.  Expect mild morning lows in the low-to-mid-70s across the state.  Skies will be mainly sunny all day with limited chances for any afternoon showers or thunderstorms.  Highs will be in the mid-100s across the panhandle, the upper-90s to low-100s across the west, and the mid-90s across central and eastern Oklahoma.  Heat indices will continue to be as high as 105 degrees.

A relief from the heat comes by Sunday and Monday.  Highs will be in the upper-90s across the panhandle on Monday, which although does not sound like any relief at all, is at least better than the mid-100s.  The rest of the state may find the heat relief more "believable" as highs will only be in the low-to-mid-90s come Monday.

Sources: NWS, WPC, HOOT, wjla.com (photo)