Heat Ongoing Through Saturday

Today is expected to be another hot day across Oklahoma, with high temperatures ranging anywhere between the mid-90s in the east to the mid-100s in the west.  A HEAT ADVISORY remains in effect until 7 PM CDT this evening for parts of eastern Oklahoma, including the cities of Tulsa and McAlester.  Heat indices will be as high as 105 degrees in the areas under the advisory.  Though the heat advisory has been scaled back from yesterday, heat indices will still be between 100 and 105 degrees across central Oklahoma, so we encourage you to continue to limit or avoid outdoor activities today.  In addition to the heat, an AIR QUALITY ALERT is in effect today for counties including or surrounding Oklahoma's largest cities.  This air quality alert is for high concentrations of ozone near the ground.  Please avoid being outdoors today if you suffer from respiratory problems.

We will now detail the forecast for today and give you a hint of good news for the coming days.  As mentioned above, today will be hot once again.  High temperatures will reach the low-100s in the panhandle and northwest and the mid-100s in the southwest and parts of south central Oklahoma.  Across central and north central Oklahoma, expect highs in the upper-90s to low-100s.  Across the southeast, highs in the upper-90s can be expected.  In the northeast, we will have highs in the mid-90s.  Heat indices will be near 105 degrees in eastern Oklahoma and between 100 and 105 degrees in central Oklahoma.

Skies will be mainly sunny across the state this afternoon.  Rain chances are very limited.  Any chance of an afternoon or early evening shower or thunderstorm will occur in central and western Oklahoma, but chances are no greater than 10% at this time.  Winds will be relatively light in central and eastern Oklahoma, accounting for the air quality alert in some places.  A south to southeast wind will blow between 5 and 10 mph.  Across western Oklahoma and the panhandle, expect a stronger wind from the south to blow between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

For the start of the weekend, we will continue to have hot conditions across the state.  Saturday morning brings lows in the upper-60s to mid-70s across the state, with the warmest lows occurring to the west.  Skies will be mainly sunny with a few afternoon clouds, but no rain is expected at this time.  Highs will continue to soar to the mid-100s across the panhandle and southwest Oklahoma and the low-100s for the rest of western Oklahoma.  Central Oklahoma will see a slight drop in highs to the mid-90s, as will eastern Oklahoma.

A significant relief from the heat comes Sunday.  While morning lows will remain mild in the upper-60s to mid-70s across the state, afternoon highs will be noticeably cooler.  Across the entire state, not only do the triple-digits disappear, the 90s should disappear as well!  Highs will be in the upper-80s all across Oklahoma on Sunday.  Rain chances will also increase starting on Sunday.  The heightened chance for rain and cooler temperatures will last through mid-week.  This is all due to an upper-level low that will move westward from the Ohio Valley towards the Southern Plains at the end of the weekend (see the graphic for more information).



Sources: NWS, HOOT, AccuWeather (photo)