MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... June 27, 2024 June 27, 2024 June 27, 2024 June 27, 2024
Uncommon
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20240627/friday-heat.index.png
Now listen here (and there, wherever "there" is, which is not "here" because I'm "here" and you're not)...any Oklahoman worth their salt is more discerning about the weather than to see one of the highest heat indexes in the Mesonet era during June and simply say "it's summer."
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20240627/yesterdays-high-heat.index.png
That 117 at Madill was only the 11th time in Mesonet history that we've seen such a high heat index during June, so that's 30 years X 30 days in June X 120 Mesonet sites, or 108,000 possible readings. And that's the 11th. Interestingly, 5 of those 11 occurred last year, including the overall highest of 120.2 degrees on June 19, 2023. Two occurred in 1998, and the other three in 2016. In other words...uncommon heat. And it matters that it's this early, even though yes, "it's summer." There's a natural order of things in weather and climate that even Mother Nature tends to follow here in Oklahoma. Not always, of course. That's where we get extremes. Extremes, like yesterday, upend the normal order of things and cause problems. We usually get a ramp up of the heat over June into July that allows some acclimation. Not that there's really too much acclimation to 117 degrees, but when it's suddenly hitting the heat index maps after just a few days of oppressive heat, it's all the more dangerous.
The point is, we can't just chalk it up to "it's summer." Who here (didn't we cover that already?) actually believes June is like July, and July is like August, or August is like June, when it comes to Oklahoma's weather? It's all summer, right? Who believes early June is like late June? Or late August is like early July? No, we Oklahomans are more nuanced and knowledgable about the weather than that, even if we (meaning, me) are not nuanced enough to know how to spell knowledgeable.
So no, not just "summer." It's very much an extreme for June, and it's dangerous to the health and safety of Oklahomans, especially those most vulnerable, like the elderly who might not have proper cooling capabilities where they live. And for those working or living outside as well. While some of the state gets a break today, SW OK will still be sweltering in dangerous territory, before tomorrow's pressure cooker for the rest of us.
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20240627/latest.oklahoma.heat.gif
NWS Tulsa already has part of its region in an Excessive Heat Watch for tomorrow, and expect much of the state to follow suit for Friday.
All this heat and humidity should continue generating some storms over the next few days, with severe weather a possibility later this afternoon into tonight. Chances for severe weather are highest across northern Oklahoma, but anywhere in the shaded regions have the possibility for that to occur. So stay weather aware today.
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20240627/OK_swody1.png
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20240627/OK_swody1_WIND.png
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20240627/OK_swody1_HAIL.png
The rain that has occurred over the last few days might actually help stave off some areas of the state falling into flash drought. I hope so, because that wind and hail was worthless! You'll notice by today's new U.S. Drought Monitor that we have greatly increased Abnormally Dry Conditions (D0) in the state from 16% of the state last week to 32% this week. While not an actual drought category, Abnormally Dry Conditions designate areas either coming out of drought, or in this case areas in danger of going INTO drought. Notice that D1 stayed about the same with around 20% of the state in moderate drought (D1). And in good news, the heavy rains in the Panhandle relieved much of the drought pressure in that area.
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20240627/20240625_ok_trd.png
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20240627/current_OK_chng_1W.png
Most of the D1 area missed out on the rains over the last few days, but some of that new D0 area threatened by flash drought did receive decent moisture (sorry, no indecent moisture...this is a family Ticker).
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20240627/2day-rain-totals.png
Hopefully the storms aren't too bad tonight, but maybe that area in NW OK can get some good rains. Heck, it's raining right now for crying out loud!
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20240627/Oklahoma.MosaicBREF.png
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20240627/3day-rain-forecast.png As for the heat, we get a bit of a break this weekend, and then maybe around July 4th. But for the most part, it's full steamy ahead.
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20240627/july4-10-temp-outlook.png
Our statewide average high temps are about 5 degrees above normal over the last week or so (dark color), but adding in the humidity is nearly doubling that anomaly (orange color).
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20240627/statewide-avg-temps.png
It was also pretty high in early June, but the "normal" early June maximum heat index isn't the same as the late June maximum heat index. A light bulb should have just gone off in your head (unlike mine, which is just a mix of Cherry Pop-Tart and drought images) from our discussion in the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs above.
Has your region hit 100 degrees yet, actual air temps? Is that early or late? This map might help you decide if you're ahead of schedule, or behind, for your region.
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20240627/avg-annual-first-last-100s.png
Stay tuned for my next missive, which is titled "What's the deal with Fairview?"
https://ticker.mesonet.org/archive/20240627/tmax.ge100.png
Gary McManus State Climatologist Oklahoma Mesonet Oklahoma Climatological Survey gmcmanus@ou.edu
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