After a brief respite, above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation will likely once again be the rule throughout much of August. I'll go ahead and start this thread off by comparing where this meteorological summer stacks up historically thus far, and where it might end up landing.

Hottest Average Max Temperatures (June - July)
1) 2011 - 99.9F
2) 1934 - 97.7F
3) 1980 - 96.9F
4) 1998 - 96.8F
5) 2006 - 96.0F
6) 1936 - 95.7F
7) 1966 - 95.2F
8) 1954 - 95.1F
9) 2012 - 95.0F
T10) 1914 - 94.2F
T10) 2022 - 94.2F

Hottest Average Max Temperatures (June - August)
1) 2011 - 100.7F
2) 1980 - 98.2F
3) 1936 - 97.6F
4) 1934 - 97.5F
5) 1998 - 97.2F
6) 2006 - 96.7F
7) 1954 - 96.3F
8) 1918 - 95.6F
9) 2012 - 95.5F
10) 1943 - 95.3F

To confirm a Top 10 hottest summer in terms of max temperatures for the meteorological summer timeframe of June - August, the average high in August will have to be 97.3F or greater, which unfortunately might be doable as our average high in July was 99.3F, and the general pattern looks to continue.

Average August High Temperature (1891-2021) - 92.5F
Average August High Temperature (1992-2021) - 92.9F
Average August High Temperature (2007-2021) - 92.9F
Average August High Temperature (2022) - ???

Thanks for the data. This has definitely been an unusually hot and dry summer in OK. This past weekend was also very unusual to have so much rain and cool temps in late July but it was sorely needed. A few more of those would be nice, and would keep temps lower. It will all depend on where high pressure sets up over the next few weeks.

IMO, the best thing that can be said for our weather the next couple of weeks is that the ridge looks to become centered more over the Central/Northern Plains, which could potentially allow for an occasional shortwave to propagate westward into Oklahoma from the Southeastern U.S. and trigger some thunderstorms. Which...it's not impossible, I've certainly seen it happen before at this time of year, but it's not exactly a pattern that you want to be relying on for precipitation and relief from the heat lol. And then I guess we'll see what happens during the second half of the month.

Long-range outlook shows hotter and drier for August. Short-term models show chances of rain/storms on 8/4 and again 8/10 but nothing like what we saw this past weekend

https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/297013480_423627363136618_3340589325531295496_n.jp g?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=TOnbteaLE7oAX-mg3WR&tn=tdLLiM553KR9v_IT&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=00_AT9xF50zYbHBkKI0fCtDgIxv_7WGub3NSeVNiq5lLuut UQ&oe=62ED2CAC

At this point, any temperature that is below triple digits feels noticeably cooler, even if it's in the 90's.

Yeah, I started taking 10-15 minute walks in the heat of the day a few weeks back in order to acclimate once it became obvious that we were in for a month or two of miserably hot weather. It’s still not great, but at least relatively tolerable now (although that might just be the Stockholm Syndrome talking).

Yeah, I started taking 10-15 minute walks in the heat of the day a few weeks back in order to acclimate once it became obvious that we were in for a month or two of miserably hot weather. It’s still not great, but at least relatively tolerable now (although that might just be the Stockholm Syndrome talking).
Probably not Stockholm Syndrome. In my 20s-30s I worked outside as an electrician 40 to 50 hours a week and occasionally helped friends frame or roof houses on top of that. And on most of the side jobs we drank beer all day. We never noticed the heat at all. Getting used to it and maybe youth make a big difference.

Decent chance of overnight storms mainly northern OK early Thursday. Another chance of more widespread rain Monday into Tuesday across the state. Great to at least see some rain chances in the forecast, anything to keep temps more in check during one of the typically hottest and driest months.

I'm hopeful that we'll get more rain in OKC - the south side didn't get much out of last weekend's storms. We only picked up about half an inch near Crossroads.

This is Thursday morning, general movement will be north to south with the best coverage in NE OK
https://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis/models/hrrr/2022080318/hrrr_ref_frzn_scus_18.png

Double post

Yes, I would put OKC's chance of rain very low, around 10%.

Texas and Oklahoma will need a complete sustained week+ pattern change or a tropical storm to help the region.

Yes, I would put OKC's chance of rain very low, around 10%.

Texas and Oklahoma will need a complete sustained week+ pattern change or a tropical storm to help the region.

The last few GFS model runs have been showing some hope for more widespread rain and cooler temps. Tropics have been eerily quiet this year.

The last few GFS model runs have been showing some hope for more widespread rain and cooler temps. Tropics have been eerily quiet this year.

Seems like I saw something about Sahara dust suppressing the Atlantic tropics.

Back to greenless lawns by late August.

If you haven't gone outside in OKC in the last hour or two [1:45pm now] yet, do it now before the warm air erodes back into this coldpool.

Seems like I saw something about Sahara dust suppressing the Atlantic tropics.

That is one culprit. Certainly not water temps in the Gulf.

GFS showing rain chances associated with weak frontal passages around 8/9-10 and again 8/18-19. We'll take whatever we can get in August.

If you haven't gone outside in OKC in the last hour or two [1:45pm now] yet, do it now before the warm air erodes back into this coldpool.
That was a nice break.

Seems like I saw something about Sahara dust suppressing the Atlantic tropics.

And now there's the volcano in Tonga:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/03/world/tonga-eruption-water-climate-stratosphere-scn/index.html

Narrow band of rain has dumped over half an inch on parts of the west metro. This is near areas in Grady County that haven't seen more than 0.25" since early June! Crazy to see the difference between Oklahoma County and Canadian County.

https://www.mesonet.org/data/public/mesonet/maps/realtime/today.rainrfc.png

https://www.mesonet.org/data/public/mesonet/maps/daily/mesonet.rainfall.quarterinch.png

I got soaked on my walk this morning around 6AM.

It was awesome.

I got soaked on my walk this morning around 6AM.

It was awesome.

Same at my place. Wish we'd get enough rain to create a bit of green vegetation before fall sits in....assuming we'll have fall time.

Yeah.... Those two 55's down there in Carter County... My farm is right in between them.

Same at my place. Wish we'd get enough rain to create a bit of green vegetation before fall sits in....assuming we'll have fall time.

I will say - the fall of 2012 was probably the most beautiful fall I've ever seen in Oklahoma because the high temps of that summer along with an extended warm days cool nights cycle had the trees changing in a very slow and distinct fashion.

We had a light ice storm, I believe, in October of that year. The day after it had iced, I had a drive down I-35 to Dallas for a music lesson in an lightly overcast sky. Those little mountains about 90 minutes out of OKC was easily the most beautiful that central Oklahoma has ever been.

Here's to hoping this summer leads to a repeat of that :-)

Random showers and storms staying in the forecast next couple days. Consider it a win if you get under one.

Temperatures will still be in upper 90s.

Not seeing a big-time pattern shift anytime soon. The drought will continue to strengthen.

Models are showing the potential for northwest flow impacting parts of OK starting next Monday. The models typically don’t have a good handle on northwest flow events so hopefully it will provide some decent precip and cooler temps

Expecting scattered to numerous slow-moving pulse storms for the OKC Metro today between 4:00 and 10:00 p.m. with the slightly better chances being south of I-40. Main threats will be heavy rain and perhaps a severe wind gust or two, similar to yesterday.

After today, the weak front causing these storms will wash out, ending our precipitation chances for a while. Tomorrow through Friday should feature fairly seasonable temperatures, with highs in the mid 90’s and lows in the lower 70’s. Thereafter, the ridge will build back in and we may have a few more days of triple digit highs.

Models are hinting at a slightly more notable cold front moving through sometime around the middle of next week and potentially ushering in a period of northwest flow, which would likely bring cooler temperatures and higher precipitation chances. Keep your fingers crossed, and stay tuned.

hopefully this will be a big rain maker for the state. NW flow has been a drought eraser in the past .

Some decent improvement today and yesterday for some of the driest areas in Kingfisher and Pittsburg counties

https://www.mesonet.org/data/public/mesonet/maps/daily/mesonet.rainfall.quarterinch.png

I feel like mother nature has something against SE OKC. We never get dumped on with rain. This storm looks, as of now, to be staying west of us. I don't know how Draper stays even close to full.

I feel like mother nature has something against SE OKC. We never get dumped on with rain. This storm looks, as of now, to be staying west of us. I don't know how Draper stays even close to full.

Because they pump water into it from Atoka and McGee Creek.

After another hot and dry weekend the pattern looks like it will finally shift bringing widespread rain and cooler temps starting around 8/18. Hopefully Norman and points south will finally get some rain

https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/814day/814temp.new.gif

https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/814day/814prcp.new.gif

Looks like if we can get through next Tuesday, thereafter high temps will only be in the upper 80s for the next 7-10 days.

Also, some decent rain chances.


I can't wait for this hell on earth to be over. I have to say though that this morning was as nice as it's been in a long time.

Makes a huge difference if you start the day near 70 instead of over 80.

You and me both Pete!!!

Highs in the 80s will feel like fall when we’ve been so used to 100+

Highs in the 80s will feel like fall when we’ve been so used to 100+

He'll, there have been days with highs in the 90s that I'm like "man ... This is kind of nice" and then seeing the temperature I just shakey head. Pretty incredible how the body internalizes some of those temperatures.

He'll, there have been days with highs in the 90s that I'm like "man ... This is kind of nice" and then seeing the temperature I just shakey head. Pretty incredible how the body internalizes some of those temperatures.

Overall it seems like the humidity has been lower than usual this summer, which does help it not feel quite as oppressive outside as you might otherwise expect. But it's still been really, really hot and I'm looking forward to some relief.

Next best chance for rain is Tuesday into Wednesday mainly over the eastern part of OK. Then again more widespread Tuesday into Thursday the following week.

I think the one weather "pattern" that can be annoying for me is when we have days or weeks on end of the same kind of particular weather. I don't mind mixing things up with a few scorching hot days, or a few days of sub-freezing temps, etc. but when we have long stretches of it, it starts to get old.

I'm ready for some temperature deflation!

I think the one weather "pattern" that can be annoying for me is when we have days or weeks on end of the same kind of particular weather. I don't mind mixing things up with a few scorching hot days, or a few days of sub-freezing temps, etc. but when we have long stretches of it, it starts to get old.

I tried to explain this about the monotony of California weather and how sometimes I found it slightly depressing.

There were periods where we didn't have rain -- I mean zero -- for like 10 months. And during that time, there was barely a cloud.

Hard to imagine that perpetual sunshine would be depressing, but after a while I found myself praying for any type of change. And it's one of the reasons I love the rain here, whether we need it or not. Water=life. And when there is none for a long period of time, it takes its toll on all living things, both plant and animal. It's something that has been happening these last few months and I can't wait for it to end.

I tried to explain this about the monotony of California weather and how sometimes I found it slightly depressing.

There were periods where we didn't have rain -- I mean zero -- for like 10 months. And during that time, there was barely a cloud.

Hard to imagine that perpetual sunshine would be depressing, but after a while I found myself praying for any type of change. And it's one of the reasons I love the rain here, whether we need it or not. Water=life. And when there is none for a long period of time, it takes its toll on all living things, both plant and animal. It's something that has been happening these last few months and I can't wait for it to end.
I wonder how it is living in the NW where it can be cloudy and rain for months on end. But I do enjoy the endless sunshine and no rain though sometimes I do also enjoy a nice thunderstorm. Still, I’ll take no rain and sunshine everyday if I could.

Hard to imagine that perpetual sunshine would be depressing, but after a while I found myself praying for any type of change.

I've noticed this exact same effect with terrain.... When I was in the Smoky Mountains last year all the pine trees were beautiful but it was rare we could see more than a few hundred feet. After a couple of days I was hiking around wondering how people deal with not being able to see the horizon most of the time like we can here.

I wonder how it is living in the NW where it can be cloudy and rain for months on end. But I do enjoy the endless sunshine and no rain though sometimes I do also enjoy a nice thunderstorm. Still, I’ll take no rain and sunshine everyday if I could.
I had a chance to find out but passed. I was offered a very good job in Bellingham, WA a number of years ago but passed when I looked up the average rain days there compared to here. I was also still a very avid road cyclist at the time and hated riding in the rain.

I've noticed this exact same effect with terrain.... When I was in the Smoky Mountains last year all the pine trees were beautiful but it was rare we could see more than a few hundred feet. After a couple of days I was hiking around wondering how people deal with not being able to see the horizon most of the time like we can here.

Interesting you say that because I had a friend who moved to Virginia and made the same observation. He said the trees were beautiful but he deeply missed being able to see miles into the distance, something he never thought about until it was gone. There are spots in far NW OKC where you can see all the way to downtown, a distance of 15-20 miles.

I suppose it's the same forces at work as having a 'view' from a particular area. I lived on a hill in California and could see very far into the distance, which never failed to mesmerize me even when things remained largely the same (like no weather change rolling in) for a long period. I suspect it ties into our DNA where early man needed to see in the distance for purposes of safety and hunting/survival.

It's very much a human trait to enjoy being higher up and being able to look out over a broad landscape.

I wonder how it is living in the NW where it can be cloudy and rain for months on end. ...

It's not fun, did it for 18 months. Aside from the emotional/mental state, you have to wear water*proof*, not just water-resistant outerwear, it's just drizzly, misty, cold, etc. for so many months annually, and for 2 months it's great, but that's not for me/us.

It's not fun, did it for 18 months. Aside from the emotional/mental state, you have to wear water*proof*, not just water-resistant outerwear, it's just drizzly, misty, cold, etc. for so many months annually, and for 2 months it's great, but that's not for me/us.
Yeah personally I’ve grown to absolutely love the desert and the heat. I spend most of my free time in Palm Springs, Vegas, or Moab(in the summer). I do think it’d be fun for a little bit experiencing the rainy PNW but I figure it would get old quick.

It's not fun, did it for 18 months. Aside from the emotional/mental state, you have to wear water*proof*, not just water-resistant outerwear, it's just drizzly, misty, cold, etc. for so many months annually, and for 2 months it's great, but that's not for me/us.

Coldest winter I ever spent was a mild one in the Portland area where it was cloudy or misting or raining and about 37-47 degrees ALL. WINTER. LONG. Never cold enough for snow, never warm enough to feel you were getting a reprieve. I have never been colder during a winter. Just as dry heat is easier to deal with than wet heat, same for cold. Colder temps but drier air is easier to bundle up against than milder, wetter cold. True the PNW is spectacular to experience, but only for a short span of time each year--2-3 months. That's why we go out there in early September--it's the best time of the year there.

Funny graphic from the Mesonet. Drought relief incoming!

https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/299314218_428083126023330_2155028131152236131_n.jp g?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=4pE4EYEWUHAAX-G6yNi&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.xx&oh=00_AT8pF82mjjfqB_OGg7xZaO5btV8KNqXtOjgnSTDjtbvG Ig&oe=62FFDD50

I'll believe it when I see it, but yes GFS is painting a complete ridge breakdown and bringing substantial rain chances to the state next week.

Lol at the Euro model with 34 inches of rain in North Texas.

Had a nice little rain last night at my house near Penn Square. Anything at this point is more than welcome.

And this morning I actually opened my windows and let in some fresh air! First time in almost 3 months.

It basically feels like Fall outside right now. Nice day for me to take my dog on a walk and grab coffee from Classen Coffee. Oh and that rain last night already helped green up my yard a little bit.

We got a nice little bit of rain on the Southside too - picked up a little over a tenth of an inch (0.13") of rain a mile west of Crossroads. Not a huge amount but I'll take anything at this point. Looking forward to getting some more rain in the near future too!

We got a nice little bit of rain on the Southside too - picked up a little over a tenth of an inch (0.13") of rain a mile west of Crossroads. Not a huge amount but I'll take anything at this point. Looking forward to getting some more rain in the near future too!

north normal got just under a tenth (.08"). but it really cooled us back down. the temp right before it started raining was around 82, and now we are in the low 70's. it's nice i have most of my windows at home open right now.

Had a nice little rain last night at my house near Penn Square. Anything at this point is more than welcome.

And this morning I actually opened my windows and let in some fresh air! First time in almost 3 months.

I've got one of those huge attic fans, so several times throughout the summer when lows were under 75 I'd turn that thing on all night. Helped the A/C the next day or so while the attic had to heat back up and also brought in that fresh air. Made for a few muggy mornings in the house but it's amazing what fresh air can do for a house overall.

I've got one of those huge attic fans, so several times throughout the summer when lows were under 75 I'd turn that thing on all night. Helped the A/C the next day or so while the attic had to heat back up and also brought in that fresh air. Made for a few muggy mornings in the house but it's amazing what fresh air can do for a house overall.OMG. The house I grew up in had one of those in the hallway. It had a cover that opened by a rope that came through the ceiling in my bedroom closet. It moved a LOT of air with all the windows open. We only had window A/C units so it had to be pretty hot before the fan wasn't as good as the A/C.

OMG. The house I grew up in had one of those in the hallway. It had a cover that opened by a rope that came through the ceiling in my bedroom closet. It moved a LOT of air with all the windows open. We only had window A/C units so it had to be pretty hot before the fan wasn't as good as the A/C.

I adore the thing

Regarding rain chances beginning Sunday. Models are continuing to favor majority of the rainfall to be along the Red River and points south. Will keep a watch for any shifts, but it looks like it may not be such a washout as we would like.

Even if this isn't the drought savior the models are showing continuous frontal passages over the next two weeks which will provide additional rainfall chances and keep temps lower. Pretty amazing to see this pattern in August.