The Week Ahead: HOT, DRY

Could this be the end of severe weather season? As an upper-level high builds and strengthens over the Plains this week, a typical summer-like pattern will unfold. We are going to see abundant sunshine and much warmer temperatures across the entire state. For those of you involved in clean-up efforts from last month’s tornadoes, the rain-free weather will certainly be a welcoming sign, though we know you could probably do without the scorching heat. However, for those of you in western Oklahoma who are still suffering from extreme to exceptional drought, we know this is not good news to you. At this point, the dry and hot weather will be sticking around for the foreseeable future. We will now step through the next few days to give you the details on exactly how hot it will be, but first let us examine the drought.


Latest on the Drought

With no rain in sight for at least the next few days, we need to examine the latest drought conditions. This drought monitor is from last Tuesday but does include the flooding rains from the storms that ravaged central and eastern Oklahoma at the end of May. The result of these rains puts central Oklahoma, mainly the Oklahoma City metro, and most of eastern Oklahoma in a “no drought” situation. However, north central and south central Oklahoma remain in drought conditions up to “severe” while western Oklahoma remains in drought conditions from “extreme” to “exceptional.” Therefore, we apologize for bearing the bad news for those of you in the west, but rain is not in sight for several days. Please prepare accordingly.


Today

Expect sunny skies across the entire state this afternoon. Temperatures will soar in the panhandle and western part of the state, reaching the low-to-mid-100s. Across central Oklahoma, we will have highs in the mid-to-upper-90s, while we see the low-to-mid-90s in the east. For many of us in central and eastern Oklahoma, these will be the first 90s we have seen so far this year! We will have relatively strong winds today, blowing from the south-southwest at 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. However, do not expect the winds to make the air feel much cooler.











Tuesday
On Tuesday morning, we will start out with mild lows in the upper-60s to low-70s across the state. Skies will be clear in the morning and remain that way for the entire day. In the afternoon, the triple-digit heat will be confined primarily to the panhandle and far northwest Oklahoma, but western Oklahoma will still see scorching highs in the upper-90s. Central Oklahoma will see another day with highs in the mid-90s, in addition to eastern Oklahoma. In south central Oklahoma, we may only see highs in the low-90s. However, with higher humidity levels on Tuesday in central Oklahoma, we are looking at heat index values in the upper-90s. Breezy conditions will also persist on, with south-southwest winds blowing at 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.








Wednesday

With the exception of the panhandle, Wednesday morning’s low temperatures will be even warmer than Tuesday’s. We are looking at lows in the low-to-mid-70s on Wednesday morning across the core of the state; the panhandle will see lows in the mid-to-upper-60s. Clear skies will, again, prevail. Triple-digit heat expands again on Wednesday to engulf a large part of western Oklahoma. Highs will be in the low-to-mid-100s. In central Oklahoma, highs will remain in the mid-90s, with some upper-90s farther west. In eastern Oklahoma, we will also see the mid-90s for highs on Wednesday. Heat index values in central and eastern Oklahoma will again make temperatures feel about 5 to 10 degrees warmer than they actually are, so please be careful with any outdoor activities! Strong winds will also persist, continuing to blow from the south-southwest at 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph.







Thursday

Lows Thursday morning will again be in the low-to-mid-70s across the core of the state while the panhandle sees lows in the mid-to-upper-60s. With clear skies, triple-digit heat continues to be confined to western Oklahoma, with highs reaching the low-to-mid-100s. Central Oklahoma will become warmer as we see highs start to reach the upper-90s. Eastern Oklahoma will see highs in the low-to-mid-90s. Please continue to be aware of strong winds and high heat index values.













Friday
For Friday, the story still does not change. Lows will be in the 60s in the panhandle and 70s elsewhere. Clear skies will continue, though a few clouds may pop up in the panhandle and northeastern Oklahoma. Triple-digit heat remains in the west, while central Oklahoma sees highs in the upper-90s and eastern Oklahoma sees highs in the mid-90s.















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