Unseasonably hot weather will continue this week with highs in the 90s and heat index values in the upper 90s to near 100. The hottest day should be today (Tuesday) before the ridge causing all of the heat starts to weaken and move east allowing for slightly lower humidity and temperatures into the weekend.
This is a look at the heat index values on Tuesday afternoon. Most of the area is in the 90s with some locations in eastern Oklahoma hitting the low 100s. A Heat Advisory is in effect in Oklahoma to account for places where the heat index is over 105º.
For comparison, the normal high temperature this time of year is 79º in NW Arkansas and 84º in the Greater Fort Smith area.
The 6-10 day climate trend continues to show hot weather across the southeast with temperature running above normal from the Great Lakes to New Orleans.
There is some change out there looking at the larger pattern. The reason the trough’s arrival keeps getting push back has to do with the strength of the ridge compared to the trough. The trough is weak and the ridge is strong so it’s taking more time to break down the ridge and when the trough finally does arrive it’ll only take our temperatures back down to near normal.
-Garrett
