Toasty Afternoon, But A Change In The Pattern Soon

Temperature heat index numbers will rise to near advisory levels both today and tomorrow.   Our friends at the National Weather Service will hold off issuing heat advisories for some locations at this hour, but may do so later today and tomorrow.  The humidity and dew points will slowly drop Friday through the weekend as the mid-level ridge of high pressure begins to retrograde westward allowing a weak front to slide south.   The pattern next week will be characterized by a ridge west and a trough east.  This will bring a northwest flow across the Rockies and into the southern plains, including Oklahoma.   The result will be lower temperatures and increasing rain and storm chances across the state.   We’ll see a few storms getting closer to northern OK Thursday night and Friday as the ridge begins to change shape and flatten.  

Weather Alerts

The temperatures this morning should start in the upper 70s across the metro with some slightly lower readings across eastern OK.  But the increasing low level moisture will result in a gradual increase in dew points for the next few hours.   The moisture may attempt to “mix out” slightly this afternoon with a southwest surface wind, but this would only act to increase the actual temperatures by a few degrees compared to yesterday afternoon and keep the heat index near 104 to 105.   We’ll keep our highs today near 98 to 99 with the heat index nearing 105.   If the moisture mixes more than anticipated the actual temperature will hit 100 with the index around 103 or so.   Any way you look at it, the potential for some toasty weather remains both today and tomorrow.   We’re right on the bubble for some heat advisory criteria across part of the area.   Again, at this point, no advisories are underway, but that may change later today. 

WARN Interactive Radar

As the ridge begins to flatten and slide westward Friday through the weekend, the temperatures from the mid-levels will begin to slowly cool a few degrees.   This will be more noticeable next week.   The result at the surface will be lows in the lower 70s and highs in the lower 90s Tuesday through Thursday of next week with periodic storm chances across the area.   Any storms that develop across the intermountain region or the northern high plains will have a chance to move southward into our area.  This pattern typically brings some late tonight and pre-dawn storms near the area.   We’ll be watching closely for any disturbance that may bring some chances into the area beginning next week and our forecast will continue to keep storm chances for several days next week.

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Thanks for reading the Wednesday morning weather discussion and blog.

Have a super great day!

Alan Crone