Intense Heat Wave on the Horizon; Pleasant Temperatures for the Near Future

Today, has been one of the nicest days of the summer, with near or just below average temperatures combined with low dew points in the 50's, is making for a very comfortable day.  Tomorrow will bring much of the same, with temperatures in the middle 80's and comfortable dew points in the 50's and maybe even low 60's, plus incredible sunshine will make it fell slightly hotter than 84.  On Friday, temperatures will begin to rise into the upper 80's, around 87 or 88, with dew points rising to slightly uncomfortable levels, into the mid 60's.  With the approach of the warm front, the National Weather Service (NWS) does not expect any thunderstorm activity due to the ridge putting a cap on the atmosphere.  This will lead to much warmer temperatures Thursday and Friday Night.  By Saturday, the ridge that was creating the heat wave in the Central and Southern Plains will finally expand eastward, causing temperatures to rise into the upper 80's to low 90's area wide, with dew points in the lower 70's, causing high heat indices. On Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, temperatures will likely rise into the middle 90's to upper 90's, with some areas picking up some 100 degree temperatures.  This combined with dew point temperatures in the low to mid 70's will cause very hot heat indices, and leading to the hottest and longest heat wave of the season.  The reason for the length of the heat wave, is because according to the National Weather Service, strong capping and the intense ridge will not allow any cold fronts to penetrate this far south or any "backdoor cold fronts" to sweep through the region.  So the heat wave could last a lot longer than anticipated, unless the ridge is able to break down.

      The pattern over the next two weeks will be much of the same with several intense heat waves over the plains, due to a stagnant subtropical ridge of high pressure in the 500 hpa level of the atmosphere.  We will continue to be above normal in temperatures until around September.  Precipitation wise, the Climate Prediction Center, believes that pockets of the thunderstorms will arrive in our area as the ridge collapses or expands across our area.  This will cause above normal rainfall across area for the next several weeks.