snowmanwx Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 It sounds very much like last year: dry and hot. Oklahoma City got even hotter today than it did last year; the temperature touched 112°F this afternoon and reached the same mark at Tulsa. Last year, as Oklahoma weather-weenies may recall, an isolated thunderstorm on 12 July dropped 2.91 inches of rain at the airport--abruptly ending a 13-day run of days with maximum temperature ≥100°F making the airport the coolest spot in central Oklahoma for the next few weeks. That July nevertheless ranks as the hottest month ever at Will Rogers World Airport. This year, Oklahoma started the year with some rain, which protected from the severe heat earlier in the season. But since 6 June, KOKC received just 0.45 inch of rain. Eight weeks (56 days, including today) of summer sun parched the ground, leaving KOKC vulnerable to severe intense heat. Today, that heat struck. The temperature reached 112°F at KOKC. That's the highest temperature ever measured at Will Rogers World Airport (KOKC). However, on 11 August 1936, the temperature at the Administration Building measured 111°F (with a dewpoint of 54°F on a west wind at 7 mph and 8 mph) for two successive hours. The observer then read a thermometer 31 feet above the ground. By comparison, 10 feet above the ground at the Weather Bureau Observatory on 1923 North Classen Boulevard, the temperature reached 113°F. Today, atop a traffic signal at Northwest 13th Street and North Classen Boulevard, the temperature reached 111°F. The temperature at Will Rogers World Airport also touched 111°F at 7 PM CDT on 19 July 1936. The dewpoint then was 57°F and the wind from northeast at 13 mph (although it had been southwesterly earlier in the day). At OKCE (Mesonet site), the temperature reached 44.2°C at the 1.5-m standard observing height but only 43.5°C at 9 m above the surface. OKCW had a lower differential, but I suspect that lawn sprinklers operate regularly near that site. What about tomorrow? The overnight lows should be interesting....yesterday morning, the temperature at KTUL (Tulsa airport) dipped only to 88°F, a record for the Tulsa "official" station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donsutherland1 Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 The incredible heat continues today. At 11 am CDT, both Oklahoma City and Tulsa were running ahead of yesterday's readings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocoAko Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Norman WFO going with 114F in Oklahoma City today (w/ 115F in Norman) and gusts up to 24 mph. Lovely! Lots of places in Northern Oklahoma running much cooler than yesterday, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brettjrob Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 ^ Another OFB got barfed out of a dying MCS in KS/MO this morning, which has once again thrown a big wrench in the forecast. The OFB itself has already made it well S of I-40, but it seems the main effects are confined to the northern 1/3 or so of the state, so far. I think this may put a nail in the coffin for the prospects of seeing a crazy 117 F type reading today, since that generally only happens in the Wheat Belt portion of N OK, which is now running well behind yesterday. As for OKC, officially running 2 F ahead of yesterday's pace for now with the noon METAR reporting 104 F. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natecast Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 The Oklahoma Mesonet shows that winds have shifted to WSW across the OKC metro. In my experience, a WSW wind here is ideal for rapid heating. 107 at 2PM, 1 degree behind yesterday's pace, but catching up..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aslkahuna Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Plastic light covers could melt in those temperatures, but if those covers are glass as most streetlights are, then No Way since glass melts at temperatures very much above the 100F range. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocoAko Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Plastic light covers could melt in those temperatures, but if those covers are glass as most streetlights are, then No Way since glass melts at temperatures very much above the 100F range. Steve Steve, I deleted the post as I found a picture showing a dumpster fire beneath the light poles caused the whole thing. They do appear to be plastic but only the two closest to the dumpster melted. It is certainly making the rounds around the internet, though. I did hear an actual story of bridges buckling in Guthrie due to the heat, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmagan Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 20Z Observations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brettjrob Posted August 2, 2012 Share Posted August 2, 2012 Record looks safe at this rate... I can only assume the OFB erasing the head-start we were supposed to have on yesterday has continued to keep us just shy of what was forecast/modeled. However, looking at guidance for tomorrow, another impressive feat that may be in reach is three consecutive days >= 110 F. That would also tie a record from 1936. EDIT: OKC and TUL both sitting at 111 F for the 4pm ob. Intra-hour high so far is 112 at OKC, so tying the record is still a possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowmanwx Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 That 111°F ties the highest hourly observation ever at KOKC. Yesterday, we hit 112°F, but the highest hourly observation was 110°F. Still, the other 111°F temperatures occurred at a higher elevation above a bone-dry surface; temperatures at the proper observing height almost certainly were higher. The all-time record at Norman is 116°F in 1936, which still holds at least for now. For the official "thread-ex" station, today ties the all-time record number of consecutive 112°F and 111°F days, both 2 in August 1936. Overnight low last night was 89°F at several stations: Stillwater 2 W Mesonet, NW 140 & Pennsylvania (Oklahoma City), Stillwater 2 W CRN, and Stillwater 5 WNW CRN, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyhb Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Good riddance to this damn Central US ridge when it finally does breakdown, it's been around in some form or another since at least April... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brettjrob Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Good riddance to this damn Central US ridge when it finally does breakdown, it's been around in some form or another since at least April... I can only hope this means more unusual, springlike chase setups in Sep-Nov like we had last year after the ridge finally broke down. Doubtful, but might as well hope for now. Two consecutive days at 112 F for OKC... can we make it three? Getting a cushy start this morning with 84 at the airport, but there are numerous light showers around the area, so we may have some delay in the typical 9am-noon rapid climb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natecast Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Yet another high of 112 at KOKC. First time in history this site has recorded three consecutive days over 111: http://bit.ly/QNiejF?OUN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natecast Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Tweet from NWS Norman at 4:40: NWS Norman @NWSNorman OKC just tied all time record of 113 degrees. #okwx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brettjrob Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 *All-time record high tied at 113 F *All-time record warm minimum set at 84 F (previous record 83 F) *Longest streak of >= 112 F days ever at 3 (previous record 2 in 1936) May be able to extend the streak of 110+ F tomorrow to 4, which would also be a new record, besting 1936. Several severe wildfires ongoing across OK this evening. Had hours straight of pyrocumulus (and some reports of sprinkles beneath the convective tower at one point) just E of OUN this afternoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocoAko Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 Good article about the fire in east Noble and southeast Norman. Hope it gets under control soon. http://normantranscript.com/headlines/x2068760111/Dry-brush-high-winds-turn-area-into-tinderbox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozarkwx Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 Strongly worded fire danger statement from Tulsa. US National Weather Service Tulsa Oklahoma A large fire has continued to burn through the night in northern Creek County and fire weather conditions will rapidly worsen today as the heat builds and winds increase. We have issued a Red Flag Warning for northeast Oklahoma today. Red Flag Warnings are issued in support of Forestry... Land Management and Indian Affairs officials. The warning means that extreme fire behavior is possible and all agencies engaged in fire fighting efforts should be ready to commit maximum resources in and near the warning area. Very high fire danger exists outside of the Red Flag area as well and all fire fighting interests in eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas should be ready for a potentially active day. A cold front will move into the region this evening. While the front will bring rain chances and take the edge of the heat...it will be the gusty winds ahead of the front today that will make the fire weather conditions extreme in northeast Oklahoma. A few of the storms today and tonight will produce down burst winds. Thunderstorms wind will be especially concerning near fire scenes. Storm winds will travel well away from the generating cells and fire commanders will need to monitor all storm activity closely. Winds will shift with the front and this too will be of concern to fire fighters. If a wild fire approaches your area...you should be ready to leave if evacuated or you feel threatened. Only if you have time...you can attempt to wet the area within 15 feet of your home and your home's roof. Before a fire threatens...you can prepare your property by clearing a 30 foot zone around your home of combustible material and excess vegetation. www.srh.noaa.gov/tsa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowmanwx Posted August 10, 2012 Author Share Posted August 10, 2012 If the temperature at KOKC reaches 99°F today, which is not expected, it would represent the 25th consecutive day of maximum temperature > 99°F. That would break the old record of 24 such days, set in 1936. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brettjrob Posted August 10, 2012 Share Posted August 10, 2012 If the temperature at KOKC reaches 99°F today, which is not expected, it would represent the 25th consecutive day of maximum temperature > 99°F. That would break the old record of 24 such days, set in 1936. I wouldn't have even been aware of this record screwjob if you hadn't mentioned it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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