Coming Days to Bring Consecutive Days in Triple Digits Throughout Southern Plains

Posted: July 6, 2022 1:09 pm

Moisture Patterns Also to Shift with Change in Weather

Those hoping for relief from the heat out West and in the southern Plains are going to have to wait a bit longer. A significant heat dome is anchored over the south-central U.S. and is expected to expand to the west in the coming days, bringing even more triple digit readings to a large area of the country.

Persistent Heat Plaguing Southern Plains This Summer

A northward bulge in the jet stream has brought persistent heat to the southern Plains this summer with many areas seeing a record number of temperatures over 100 degrees this early in the year. For example, Abilene, Texas is on track to break over 40 days of triple-digit temperature readings this summer, shattering the average of just 15 days that break the century mark in a given year. The city only saw eight days over 100 days in all of 2021, pointing to the rarity of already seeing more than three dozen days with this level of searing heat.

San Antonio is another city in Texas that is collecting 100-degree days at a rapid pace. The city has already seen over two dozen days at this reading or higher, compared to the average of nine days in a normal year. 2022 has been a far cry from 2021 when San Antonio did not hit 100 degrees until September 6. The current record for the number of days reaching 100 degrees or higher is 59, set back in 2009. While it is not likely that the city breaks that record, there is a good possibility that it will creep into the top five of this ranking.

Dallas is also ahead of its 2021 pace when it comes to racking up 100-degree days. As of July 5, the city has seen over 12 days at this reading. The average for the metroplex is 20 days each year.

Heat Dome Also Responsible for Lack of Significant Precipitation

The unrelenting heat dome is also responsible for the lack of precipitation. Both Dallas and Oklahoma City have seen their rain totals plummet over the last month, not doing the drought conditions any favors. As the heat stretches to the west, it will translate to a decrease in the amount of storms that have been hanging out over the Southwest.

The major area of heat will move to the interior West by the middle of the week with the southern Plains still seeing plenty of 100-degree highs. Some cities may even see season-high readings, including Dallas with a forecast high of 103 or higher for the next week. Areas such as Oklahoma City and Tulsa may also see a string of days with temperatures well above 100 degrees.

There is also the potential of a few thunderstorms popping up over the weekend throughout the southern Plains if a weak front makes its way to the south. Be sure to keep an eye on your local forecast in the coming days if you have outdoor plans this weekend.

Change in Precipitation Pattern Ahead

However, just as the potential of thunderstorms increases in the southern Plains, it will decrease in the interior West as the heat dome also moves to the west. This will give the area a brief reprieve from the monsoon storms that have distinguished the weather pattern of the last few weeks.

This means that cities such as Albuquerque will dry out in the coming days. This city has measured well over two inches of rain over the last three weeks, compared to an average of about half of an inch during this same timeframe.

The good news for those in Montana is that the change in the weather will also help to mitigate the amount of moisture that has fallen on the area over the last few weeks. This means that officials at Yellowstone National Park may begin to make some progress on repairing the washed out bridges and roads.

A more westerly flow of air throughout Montana will usher in drier conditions, a stark contrast from the firehose that had been in place since the middle of June. Although there still may be the isolated thunderstorm that pops up in this region, the threat of torrential rain and flash flooding will be lower.

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