Continued HOT, DRY

Hot and dry conditions will continue through the end of the week as an upper-level ridge of high pressure dominates over the Plains. Triple-digit heat will continue in the west while temperatures remain well in the 90s for central and eastern Oklahoma. For many of us, yesterday was the first 90-degree day we have seen so far this year! However, despite a slow start to the warm season, these warm temperatures will soon become the norm as we approach the summer solstice next week.











Today
Under sunny skies, triple-digit heat will be confined primarily to the panhandle and northwest this afternoon; temperatures will be in the low-to-mid-100s. For the rest of western Oklahoma, expect highs in the upper-90s. Central and eastern Oklahoma will see highs in the mid-90s. Due to high humidity levels in central and eastern Oklahoma, beware of heat index values that will make the air feel 5 to 10 degrees warmer than it actually is. Relatively strong southerly winds will prevail, blowing between 15 and 25 mph. Gusts will be as high as 35 mph.











Wednesday

Wednesday morning will start off with mild lows in the upper-60s in the panhandle and the low-to-mid-70s elsewhere. Then, in the afternoon, triple-digit heat returns to all of western Oklahoma, with highs reaching the low-to-mid-100s. Across central Oklahoma, highs will reach the mid-to-upper-90s; in eastern Oklahoma, highs will reach the mid-90s. Heat index values will be in the upper-90s in central and eastern Oklahoma. Skies will be sunny. A south-southwest wind will blow between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. In northwest Oklahoma, the winds will become light and variable in the afternoon.










Thursday

For the morning, we will have another day with lows in the upper-60s in the panhandle and low-to-mid-70s elsewhere. Under sunny to mostly sunny skies, we will again see the 100s in western Oklahoma. Central Oklahoma will see highs in the mid-to-upper-90s, while eastern Oklahoma sees highs in the mid-90s. Heat index values will again be in the upper-90s across central and eastern Oklahoma. Winds will be relatively calm in the morning, with speeds increasing up to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Friday
The story does not change. In the morning, expect lows in the upper-60s in the panhandle and low-to-mid-70s elsewhere. In the afternoon, expect the upper-90s to low-100s in the west, mid-to-upper-90s in central Oklahoma, and the mid-90s in the east. Skies will be sunny.


















In the midst of this heat wave, please remember your heat safety tips!

Sources: NWS, HOOT, Mesonet, insurancejournal.com (photo)