Break in the Heat, Chances of Showers/Storms.

The unsettled pattern that has been hammering KS/MO the last week or two looks to persist through the coming week. Notice the seven day QPF map on the right which continues to paint a broad bulls-eye over those areas with a relatively tight gradient just to the south. That means for OK, we continue to be on the southern fringe of the heaviest precipitation, but the tight gradient also means that some locations, particularly our more northern counties, could pick up some locally heavy rains over the course of the coming week. Also, such a tight gradient means that if that axis should shift a little one way or the other, it could result in a huge difference in rainfall amounts.

Not only that, but there will also be a possibility of a few severe storms across the state with winds/hail the primary threats. For here in E OK, it looks like the late night hours tonight and perhaps into the morning hours would be the most likely time for showers/storms, some of which may be severe. Another threat of showers/storms, some of which may be severe, will exist late Thursday into the overnight hours of Thursday night.

This general unsettled pattern will also persist well into next week with temperatures expected to average at or below normal and rain chances at or above normal throughout the coming week.

Speaking of temperatures, it was close but we did not ‘officially' make it to triple digits yesterday and it will be close again today with upper 90s once again expected. Heat index values will be in the 105+ range so the heat headlines will continue through the day today. However, today should be the last of the really hot days as a break in the heat is expected in the days ahead.

Low-mid 90s should be the general rule for Thursday followed by 80s to near 90 for Friday and Saturday. Also, our winds will be shifting to a more N/NE direction as a weak boundary moves into the state and stalls out. This shift in the winds, the presence of the boundary, and the unsettled pattern aloft all translate into temperatures generally running a bit below normal and rain chances above normal as we go through next week.

Quite a contrast to the last few summers.

Dick Faurot