Anniversary of Heat Wave of 1936; Somewhat Wetter this Week, But Still Hot

Yesterday and Today, (depending on what city you were in) marks the beginning of the infamous July 1936 North American Heat Wave, which caused extreme drought over a good chunk of North America.  Record high average temperatures were set in many states, along with record daily highs every day of the heat wave in many cities across the Midwest.  At Fort Wayne International Airport, daily record highs were recorded every day from the 8th of July to the 14th.  These temperatures were: 104 on the 8th; 102 on the 9th; 102 on the 10th; 98 on the 11th; 103 on the 12th; 104 on the 13th; and the hottest temperature of 106 (also Fort Wayne's all-time hottest temperature on record) occurred on the 14th.  These temperatures coincided with an extreme drought at Fort Wayne (the next drought of the proportions of 1936 was in 1988). 
      Now as for the weather patterns for the next several weeks, the pattern, according to the Climate Prediction Center, will feature a strong longwave trough in the West, which will continue to cause a strong ridge to form over the Central and Eastern United States.  This strong ridge will aid the hot temperatures around, more than likely to cause our temperatures to hover near the lower 90's for most of the summer, which is much warmer than normal.  This longwave ridge pattern could even several intense heat waves to form from now through the beginning of August.  This week, though, three or four days starting today and lasting through Tuesday, will be in the 90's, which qualifies as a heat wave in the definition of a heat wave as given by the National Weather Service in Northern Indiana.  On Monday and Tuesday, thunderstorms are a possibility as more humid air arrives in the region, causing high heat indices.   The thunderstorms will be mainly isolated to scattered and will be more of a pulse storm nature instead of in organized bands, much like the same pattern of the last month.  By Friday, thunderstorms could bring heavy rainfall again but to isolated, because again they will be more of a pulse storm nature.  I really don't see any organized thunderstorm formation unless the ridge that is over the Eastern United States, breaks down and allows several shortwave impulses to impact the area with organized severe thunderstorm events.  Other than that, if the ridge does not break down, then expect warm to hot temperatures over the next several weeks.