It Just Keeps Getting Hotter!
Wow…as of this writing KCI is @ 106° (record is 111°) as the heat is in the process of maxing out over the next two days before we see a minor setback and then perhaps even hotter weather maxes out next Tuesday and Wednesday. For whatever reason KCI is running about 1-3° hotter than everybody else and is the hot spot in the local area, (officially).
It’s just insane and when you look at the weather maps, especially the maps @ 500 mbs or about 18,000 feet, it’s almost as if this dome of high heat through the atmosphere is a living and breathing thing. It’s like it exhales for a couple of days were we sizzle even more, then inhales and moves a bit while we see a small drop in the maxes and then it exhales again and it reloads the region with searing heat. Today is the 10th day of 100+ degree days The last time we had that many was 2003. Previous to that was 16 days in 1988 and by the time next WED roles along we should be near or above that number.
There is a small feature that we’re looking at that Mike talked about last night and that is this little band of moisture that is producing a NE>SW band of cloud cover that MAY create a few isolated pockets of storms sometime tonight or early tomorrow AM, especially from KC or north of KC up towards the IA border.
There are a few little showers in that band and there is a weak trof that will slowly slide into the region switching our winds towards the NE and then E on FRI and SAT. This conceivably drop the highs about 5-10 degrees. We’re still talking highs in the 97-102° range…but better than the 104-108° range that we’re looking at today and tomorrow.
Looking at the model data, there does appear, as I talked about yesterday, to be a brief shot of “less hot” air for the latter part of next week. With that will come an opportunity to see some storms but significant drought relieving rainfall is not in the cards for the rest of the next 10 days or so (at least). the core of the heat stretches all the way back east (severe weather is ongoing in that region creating all sorts of flight delays as of this writing as well). Here is a look at the 2Pm temperatures from Unisys…
A story that at this point shows no signs of ending is the drought. The news folks have been busy covering that angle today and will have more tonight on 5/6/9/10 however I thought this video that NOAA generated was pretty cool showing the expansion of the drought since the 2012 started. Fascinating to see the erosion of the drought across chunks of OK and TX and the rapid expansion of it through the Plains states in May and June.
Folks I want to emphasize to you that this is the type of heat that kills those who are most vulnerable. Our new department is reporting that another person may have died due to the heat. We’ve caught a “small” break in that the overnight lows have been manageable for most of the last several weeks. Last night we only dropped into the upper 70s to near 80° and this may become more common later int eh weekend and early next week. When buildings at night can’t cool down and then the sun blazes away the following day, sadly those who have no A/C are vulnerable to heat issues. Make sure to touch base with any who may fall into the category over the coming days/weeks. This is serious. Heat kills more people nationwide than any other weather phenomena and this year is going to be even nastier as the summer roles along. Just children being left in vehicles is a big issue as well…
Just use common sense and remember an Excessive Heat Warning is in effect through Sunday.
Joe
