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The heat has been building back in the the south over the past few days, and 90s and triple digit readings will be on the increase into the weekend. Unfortunately, this is going to be a relentless heat as there doesn’t look to be a break in the weather until maybe late this month. Many areas have the potential to see their warmest temperatures of the year so far over the next few days.
Highs today will soar into the 100s over parts of Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma as upper level ridging continues to build across the region. Temperatures will be close to 100 as far north as the Oklahoma/Kansas border. Even places like Albuquerque, NM, could approach 100 later today – they have only seen two 100+ degree days so far this year. Some isolated areas could make it as high as 105 in parts of southern Oklahoma and portions of Texas.
The warmth continues to build north and east into the day Friday, with Oklahoma City likely to break the century mark and 100s approaching the Little Rock area. Again, some areas could aim more towards 105 in parts of Oklahoma and Texas. Parts of New Mexico start to get a little break in the heat, however, with temperatures a few degrees cooler in Albuquerque Friday compared to Thursday.
(MAPS: National Forecast Highs)
Heat Advisories In Place As Of Midday Thursday
Heat Advisories are in place today across all the areas in orange in the graphic to the left, including Oklahoma City, Dallas, Abilene, Shreveport and Little Rock. Some of these locations see these advisories stretch into Friday – and even some areas already have a Heat Advisory out through the weekend. For these areas, while highs will be in the 90s to low 100s, it’ll feel more like 105-110.
Excessive Heat Watches In Place As Of Midday Thursday
Excessive Heat Watches have been issued for parts of central and eastern Oklahoma for Friday. In these areas, heat index values are expected to be 110 or higher during the afternoon hours tomorrow. For the NWS Norman forecast area (including the Oklahoma City area), the last time they issued an Excessive Heat Watch was back in the middle of July 2006! However, they have already had to issue Excessive Heat Warnings for parts of their forecast area earlier this year. Meanwhile, NWS Tulsa issued two Excessive Heat Watches last year.
(MAPS: Latest Watches, Warnings, and Advisories)
Record Heat
While 90s and 100s are expected this time of year across the southern Plains, we could still see the potential of records being challenged over the next few days. Here’s a list of some of the places that will see records approached.
- Thursday
- Clayton, NM: 99 (Record: 99)
- Roswell, NM: 105 (Record: 104)
- El Paso, TX: 103 (Record: 102)
- Houston, TX: 101 (Record: 101)
- Friday
- Midland, TX: 103 (Record: 104)
- Roswell, NM: 104 (Record: 105)
- Saturday
- Midland, TX: 104 (Record: 105)
- Sunday
- New Orleans, LA: 96 (Record: 97)
Select City Forecasts
Oklahoma City has not seen a 100 degree day yet this year, and we are working our way up the rankings for one of the latest first 100 degree days on record. The warmest day so far in Oklahoma City has only been 98 back on July 20th. There is a good chance we will approach that over the next few days, again with that Excessive Heat Watch in effect for Friday across the area. It’ll feel more like 105-110 over the next few days, however, no matter how warm the temperature gets.
The warmest temperature so far at Dallas has been 104 back on July 30th, and Dallas has only seen six days with temperatures of 100 or greater. With the heat in the forecast, there is a good chance we will see warmer temperatures than that over the next few days. We saw a temperature of 103 yesterday, and each of the next seven days looks to have a temperature of 100+. The last time Dallas saw five consecutive 100+ degree days was August 6th-10th of 2014. Meanwhile, the most recent stretch longer than that was back between July 31st and August 9th in 2013, lasting ten days long.
Houston has already seen 25 straight days with a high temperature of 95 degrees or higher, ranking the city 12th on the list of consecutive 95+ degree days. Our forecast adds another seven days to that streak, which would bring then into sixth place with 32 days. The most in a row was 41 days back in July and August of 1993. Meanwhile, they have only hit 100+ three days this year – and a few more look likely.
(CHECK OUT YOUR FORECAST: wx.aerisweather.com)
– Meteorologist D.J. Kayser
