Hot, Humid Next Few Days.

As the max/min temperature map on the right shows, courtesy of the OK Mesonet, this has been a pretty nice day for early August; at least for the NE corner of the state. The clouds and some lingering shower activity helped hold temperatures down throughout the day. However, notice the SW corner where triple digits were common. Unfortunately, a more S/SW wind component is expected for Mon/Tue which will have the effect of advecting that hotter, somewhat drier air our way.

Fortunately, the ground between here and there is quite moist as the second map on the right clearly shows, also courtesy of the OK Mesonet. That implies the vegetation is very green in those areas and the net effect will be to mitigate the heat to some extent. Even so, the Mon-Wed forecast period looks to be the hottest we have been recently with some triple digits possible for the somewhat drier, more southern counties. Have held off on triple digits here in NE OK due to the evapotranspiration from the soils/plants, but it will be close. Also, that has a caveat as it will still feel like triple digits or more as the combination of heat/humidity will push the heat index well over 100.

Along with the heat comes less of a chance of showers/storms for the next few days. Although the chances are not zero, they are pretty remote and should be confined to the extreme N and NE counties. We should also have more sunshine, particularly on Tuesday which looks to be the hottest day of this forecast cycle.

The ridge of higher pressure aloft that has been suppressed further south of us will be building back over the state bringing the heat and less of a rain chance for the next few days. But, all the longer range guidance for later in the week suppresses that ridge back to the south of us again allowing another frontal boundary to make it down our way by late Wednesday. That is expected to bring another decent chance of showers/storms through Wed night and into the day Thu along with a break in the heat.

That should be followed by daily chances of showers/storms as the boundary lingers in the area going into the end of the week along with below normal temperatures. Yet another system may arrive early the following week to keep us below normal with respect to temperatures and above normal with respect to our rain chances. All in all, not too bad for the month of August, particularly in comparison with where we have been the last two years.

So, stay tuned and check back for updates.

Dick Faurot