Coolest Air In Weeks Possible By This Weekend

FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK: TODD YAKOUBIAN
TWITTER: KATV_WEATHER

9:20 PM Tuesday Update...  I still think the nicest air mass in several weeks could arrive later this week.  It may be the first real sign the back of the heat wave is broken and fall is around the corner.  I still have some reservations about the GFS high temperatures due to reasons posted below.  While I still think it cools down and less humid air filters into the state, I'm not sold it will be as extreme as the GFS indicates, but there's always that chance.

This is known as the GFS MOS (Global Forecasting System Model Output Statistics).  I have circled the high temperature Friday through next Tuesday according to the late night run of the model.  It shows highs in the mid and upper 80s Friday and Saturday with dewpoint values in the mid 60s.  It does warm us up into the lower 90s by the end of the weekend into next week.  However, the GFS does trend towards climotology in the long range.  With that said, it does look like cooler and drier air will arrive late this week, but will it be this cool?  I have doubts.  I think it's more likely we need to add a few degrees each day due to the high sun angle and dry ground.  The average high this time of year is around 93 degrees.  That seems more reasonable.

This is the GFS valid at 1PM Saturday.  The extreme heat is well west with northeasterly winds here at the surface as high pressure builds into the region.  

Surface dewpoints look very low across western Arkansas with higher values across the delta.   This is still lower than it has been this summer.  The lower moisture levels would lead to very comfortable overnight low temperatures.  The A/C may get a good rest at night!

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I debated whether or not to buy into the idea, but the modeling is very consistent with a significant trough over the eastern half of the country with a strong ridge of high pressure out west.  This northwesterly wind flow aloft will open the door to the possibility for a few shots of somewhat cooler air.

When I say "cooler", I'm talking about temperatures which would be close to "average" for this time of year which are the lower 90s.  But here's the bonus to the whole situation.... LESS HUMIDITY.

However, there are a couple of things working against any drastic cool down.  First, the sun angle is still quite high and efficient at heating us up.  Yes, it is lowering on the horizon as we head into fall, but the August sun is still very, very effective.  Add a dry ground into the mix, and it can heat up more than what the models indicate.  For these reasons, I'm cautious about any BIG drop in temperatures, but the pattern will favor lower temperatures as the strong ridge of high pressure which brought us all this summer heat moves westward.

Below are model maps....

The GFS valid next Saturday evening indicates high pressure located northeast of Arkansas.  All the small black lines are wind barbs pointing in the direction from which the wind is coming from.  At the surface, we have a northeasterly wind flow.  The color contours indicates highs in the 80s northeast to 90s southwest.

The GFS dew point map shows lower moisture values with dew point temperatures in the 50s north to 60s south.  This would be very comfortable air for August standards, ESPECIALLY at night!!!

The European model early Saturday morning shows the ridge of high pressure in the upper levels located across the western United States with a deepening trough across the east.  This would limit any extreme heat here!