Dangerous Heat Is Here. Just How Hot and Why?

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For all of you in the 2013 Summer Contest, I have a new page listed in the navigation bar above.  I will update it frequently so you can follow your prediction.

The heat is on for sure, but remember, this is nothing compared to what we experienced over the past 3 summers.  Heat index temperatures around 100 degrees is very typical in mid June.  No matter how "normal" it is, please stay hydrated and drink all the water you can!!!!


A couple of summers ago you may remember an experiment I performed in my car.  I set a thermometer in it for 15 minutes in direct sunshine.  It soared to around 140-150 degrees inside that car.  It's extremely upsetting, disturbing,  sad (words can't describe it) when you hear about kids and pets left in those conditions.  Did you know heat is the #1 weather related killer in the United States?

Check out this video below provided by NOAA showing you how hot it can get inside a car.  Also below, you can check out "Futurecast" forecast heat index temperatures and an upper level chart showing you why it's so hot.  STAY SAFE!



Maps from "Futurecast"

Forecast heat index temperatures around 1PM Wednesday.  It appears the highest heat index temperatures will occur in the early to mid afternoon hours over the next couple of days.  Why?  A process called "mixing" will help transport drier air to the surface.  You will notice this when you feel an afternoon breeze around 10-15 mph.  While the heat index will drop, the actual temperature will rise due to the ability of dry air to warm faster than moist air.

Once Again, Futurecast shows the highest heat index readings Thursday during the early to mid afternoon due to the process I described above.

This upper level chart at 500mb is very typical this time of year.  Look at the high engulfing the southern United States.  This pushes the storm track to the north.  This is also known as the "ring of fire".  Disturbances will fire big storms and they will travel along the periphery of this strong ridge of high pressure in a clockwise manner.  One such disturbance is clearly seen in northern Iowa late Wednesday.  Watch the storms develop up there.  If that high moves a little further to the west, the periphery of that high will edge into NE Arkansas and a few afternoon storms will be possible.  We'll see when and if that happens.