Hot and Humid Weather Returning Soon

The upper air pattern is changing and should bring more summerlike weather back to the state for the next few days. There will remain a low chance for a few storms during a small window during the weekend. Another system may be near the state by the end of next week. Patchy fog is underway this morning in those areas that did receive rainfall yesterday but will mix out early this morning.

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You’ll notice some warmer weather later this morning, including a little more humidity compared to the previous few days. Highs this afternoon will respond back into the lower 90s east and near the mid-90s from Tulsa to the west along with south winds returning at 10 to 20 mph. Gusty south to southwest winds will be possible this weekend into early next week as the pressure gradient across the plains strengthens. Temps will be moving above normal this weekend into next week with lows in the upper 70s and highs in the upper 90s. Heat index values on Friday will reach near or just shy of 100 and Saturday nearing 104. But readings are expected to be near or higher than 105 Sunday into early next week and heat advisories will be required for parts of Eastern Ok and northwestern Arkansas.   

A powerful storm system will move across the central and northern plains Saturday, but the tail-end of this system could brush far northern OK and southern Kansas Saturday night into part of Sunday with a few showers or storms. While this probability remains low, if storms do develop or enter these areas, a few strong storms would be possible. The EURO continues to be the outliner bringing a decaying complex of storms into northern OK early Sunday morning. Our forecast continues with a low chance for a few storms beginning late Saturday night through early Sunday morning to account for this possibility. Our main issue for the weekend and early next week will be the growing heat and humidity. Some data also suggest another wave may be close enough later next week to bring a front nearby with a few additional storms around Thursday.

The tropical Atlantic seems to be waking up after a few weeks of dealing with the Saharan Dust layer and unfavorable conditions for tropical development. At least two distinct waves could grow into tropical systems over the next 5 to 7 days as we move into what is considered the more active period of the tropical season. 

We’ve been very cool the past few days but the heat and humidity will be growing soon. Start the pre-hydration process now to prepare later for the increasing heat stress anticipated this weekend and next week.

Thanks for reading the Friday morning weather discussion and blog.