Friday Morning Update

The first front is sliding south of the area this morning after helping to fire up some storm activity across southern Kansas and northern OK late last night across a small portion of our area of concern.  This front will begin the transition from extremely hot air to below normal temperatures for the next 5 to 7 days.  Readings today will still be in the mid-90s despite the frontal passage.  But north winds will usher in slightly drier air today across southern Kansas and Northern OK that will take the edge off the temperature heat index values.  The afternoon values should remain below excessive heat warning criteria and the heat warnings will no longer be required for our immediate areas of concern.  

We may see a few showers on the far OK-Arkansas state line area this morning but these will be insignificant if they occur at all.  The boundary may spark off a few showers or storms later today across southeastern OK but the chance will remain very low.  

The next front will arrive Saturday with a significant cool down relative to the past few days across the state.  Temps will start in the mid to upper 60s Saturday morning before moving to near 90 for the daytime high.  Our temperatures Sunday will start in the lower 60s and finish with highs only in the mid-80s.  North winds will reside around 10 to 15 mph.  There will be a slight chance for a shower or two Sunday morning across the far western portion of OK and Sunday evening across the far southwester or southern part of the state.  We have taken the probability for Sunday precip out of our forecast for northern OK.  

Monday through Wednesday the morning lows will drop into the lower 60s with daytime highs in the mid-80s with northeast winds.  Some locations northeast of Tulsa may hit the upper 50s for Monday and Tuesday morning lows! This highly unusual pattern for early July could also bring a chance for storms into the state during the July 4th-5^th-6^th time period, but the exact parameters are yet to be known with any confidence.  We do know the main mid-level ridge will continue to be located across the inter-mountain region westward with an unseasonably strong mid-level trough located across the Midwest.  This trough could meander near the southern or central plains states late next week keeping below normal temperatures, cloud over, and storm chances in the forecast.   

The official high in Tulsa yesterday was 100.  The normal daily average high is 91 and the low is 71.  Daily records today include a high of 106 from both 1925 and 1918.  The daily record low is 58 from 1985 and 1974.  

The highest heat index value in Tulsa yesterday was 112.  

You'll find me on Facebook and Twitter.  https://www.facebook.com/AlanCroneNewsOn6

Twitter@alancrone 

I'll be discussing the weather on numerous Radio Oklahoma News Network affiliate stations across the state through the noon hour today.   

Have a super great day!

Alan Crone

KOTV