Extremely High Temperatures Yesterday... Highest in Twelve Years.

After morning lows around 77, temperatures rapidly rose under mostly sunny skies into the lower 100's in many areas.  In Antwerp, the high temperature was 102 degrees, which we haven't seen since 1995.  In Defiance, temperatures also rose to 102 which they haven't seen since July 14, 1995.  At Fort Wayne, the official high temperature was 100 degrees, which Fort Wayne hasn't seen since July 30, 1999.  Even though the temperatures were extremely high, dew points dropped into the low 70's in the afternoon, allowing heat indices to not be as high as what was originally forecasted in some areas.  Fort Wayne's highest heat index yesterday was 110, even though the forecasted heat index was 114.  But other areas exceeded the heat index forecast, with Paulding, Defiance, Huntington, Van Wert, and Bryan all reaching 116 in the afternoon.
     With these hot temperatures over the last six days, this year's average July temperature is solidly at 79.0 degrees which is 5.6 degrees above normal at Fort Wayne Baer Field, and is 6.2 degrees above normal at Defiance Memorial Airport.  After yesterday's 100 degree temperature, the number of 90+ degree days in July has risen to 14 which is even more than last year, and we thought last year was hot.  The total to date of 90+ degree days is currently 19.  After today, Saturday, and Sunday, this number will likely rise to 22.  To put this in perspective, the average number of 90 degree days in a year is 13 at Fort Wayne.  Usually, Fort Wayne receives 100 degree day every one or two years, but the last decade never had a single temperature above 96 degrees which was in June of 2005.
      Today, temperatures will once again rise into the mid 90's with dew points in the mid 70's, making it slightly more oppressive than yesterday.  If there is more cloud cover today, expect temperatures around 94.  If storms do not form and there is less cloud cover, expect temperatures once again the upper 90's to near 100.  Forecasted heat indices today range from 105 to 110, with some areas hitting 112, which is why we still have an Excessive Heat Warning, that is in effect until Saturday at 8 p.m.  Thunderstorms could be a threat today, especially towards afternoon and evening.  There is a chance that these thunderstorms do not form, because of a strong cap currently over the area, which will prevent thunderstorm development.  If the storm do form, they could be strong to severe with strong winds, large hail, and heavy rain.  These storms will most likely develop in an isolated fashion, which means that one town might get three inches of rain while another town might get a trace of rain.  By Saturday, our thunderstorm chances will increase as the cap breaks down and extreme instability builds with extremely high dew points and temperatures in the 90's.  On Sunday, the humidity levels will slowly decrease allowing the heat index to still rise over 100.  By Monday, temperatures will drop into the upper 80's, with much lower dew points and relative humidity.