Déjà Vu? Heavy Rain, Cooler Temperatures Ahead

Similar to what occurred a couple of weeks ago, we will be seeing another dramatic pattern shift as a strong cold front ushers in cooler temperatures and a decent chance for rain across the state.  The best timing for rain will be later tonight, through Wednesday and Wednesday night, and into Thursday morning.  Rain will then taper off from west to east, and skies will clear up by Friday and remain generally clear through the weekend.

Blast of Extreme Summer Heat This Week

Below-average, record-breaking cool temperatures from the past week may seem like nothing now as they have quickly turned into a blast of extreme summer heat this last full week in July as a strong ridge of high pressure sets up over the central United States.  Sure, highs in the 90s and even 100s are not uncommon in Oklahoma in late-July.  But what about heat indices between 105 and 110 degrees?  When heat advisories have been issued for much of the state, you know it is going to be hot!

Summer Heat Returns This Week

Unseasonably cool temperatures as a result of a strong surface cold front due to an upper-level trough had Oklahomans thinking fall may have arrived early this year.  After a cool work week, a typical summerlike pattern will resume this upcoming week with a strong ridge of high pressure in place aloft.  This will allow temperatures to return to their typical levels for mid-to-late July.

Heavy Rain, Unseasonably Cool Temperatures Ahead

The cold front has passed, and temperatures have cooled behind it.  However, the front is expected to stall out near the region, increasing rain chances through the end of the work week.  Additionally, high and low temperatures will be well below normal for what we would expect in the middle of July.  After this week, a summerlike pattern returns with lots of sunshine and highs back into the middle-90s.

The Week Ahead: Rain, Cooler Temperatures

Extreme summer heat will be coming to an end as early as tomorrow for most of the state as a strong cold front associated with a trough pushes southward into Oklahoma.  Today was nothing short of a scorcher as highs in the 100s stretched across parts of southwest and central Oklahoma. Oklahoma City, however, did not reach the century mark today.  The official high at the airport was 99 degrees, meaning that the city still has not reached 100 degrees so far this year.  The average first day for Oklahoma City to reach 100 degrees is July 9.  Despite Oklahoma City not reaching 100, surrounding cities in the central Oklahoma area did.  According to the Oklahoma Mesonet, Kingfisher reached a high of 100 degrees, with Norman, Shawnee, and Guthrie reaching a high of 101 degrees.  More triple digit heat will not be expected in at least the next week across these regions due to the approaching cold front.  Temperatures will be anywhere between 10 to 20 degrees below average!

Strong Cold Front to Usher in Cooler Air Next Week

News has quickly been spreading about an upper-level trough that will bring unusually cool air to the Plains and Midwest next week.  What you're hearing is true.  A strong cold front as a result of the trough will bring a major temperature swing from this weekend into the middle of next week as very warm summer-like temperatures turn into those reminiscent of early fall across Oklahoma and range 10 to 20 degrees below normal.  Some areas could even flirt with some record lows on a couple mornings.  It's a good thing this cold front is happening during the summer; a similar pattern setup during the winter would likely bring a winter storm and a prolonged period of below-freezing temperatures to much of the state.  Luckily, we're still a few months away from something like this happening.