Dick Faurot's Weather Blog: One More Day Before Heat Returns

Nice little break today from the heat, as you can see on the max/min temperature map across the state, courtesy of the OK Mesonet. The cloud cover and some lingering shower activity helped to keep temperatures about 10 degrees below normal for this time of year - and since this is the hottest time of year, it was certainly some welcome relief.

Wednesday will see temperatures start to rebound with daytime highs near 90, but that is still below normal for this time year. As mentioned, this is the hottest time of year with a normal diurnal temperature range of 94/73, so anytime we can be below those numbers is usually a good thing.

We also have another shot at more showers/storms through the overnight hours tonight and into the morning hours of Wednesday before things start to dry out once again. There were some locally very heavy rains over the last 24 hours, as you can see on the statewide rainfall map, but the heavier amounts were certainly localized. For example, the official recording location at Tulsa International Airport only received 0.25” in contrast to the more than 4” that fell on the south side of Tulsa County.

The QPF map for tonight and into the day Wednesday suggests the potential for another inch or more of rain, but keep in mind that represents an areal average with some locations receiving more and others much less. A few showers or storms may linger into the day Thursday for the more northern counties but after that our rain chances will be in the slim to none category as you can see on our forecast page.

That also means the steam bath will be returning with the extensive rain footprint in place from these recent rains and a ridge of high pressure becoming re-established aloft over the state. Mostly sunny skies for the latter part of the week, through the weekend and into the coming week will allow temperatures to reach well into the 90s once again, along with heat index values well into triple digits; in other words, much like last week and last weekend.

Beyond that time period, the 6-10-day outlook, which will take us through the end of the month, strongly suggests temperatures will average above normal through that time period along with near normal chances of precipitation. So, the steam bath will likely persist going into the month of August, but at least we have yet to officially reach triple digits, and as long as we can keep things from drying out too much, that reduces those chances. Of course, we still have all of August to go.

In the meantime, stay tuned and check back for updates.

Dick Faurot