Record-challenging heat to scorch the south-central US
By
Mary Gilbert, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published May 2, 2020 10:26 AM EDT
Accuweather's Dexter Henry looks at New York City's effort to provide people with more open space during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a blisteringly hot day across much of the Southwest and south-central United States on Friday and Saturday, residents may be looking for relief from the summerlike pattern.
But AccuWeather forecasters say the heat is likely to persist into Monday.
"The same pattern that caused summerlike heat to build along the California coast and sent thousands to area beaches has shifted eastward, allowing temperatures to climb over a large part of the central U.S.," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.
The major atmospheric influence on this prolonged, unseasonably hot pattern for the southwestern and south-central U.S. is the position of the jet stream. A northward bulge in the jet stream over the southwestern U.S. during much of the latter half of April allowed warmth to build significantly over the area by confining any cooler, moist air to the Pacific Northwest.
On Friday, high temperature records were in jeopardy across the Four Corners region and the southern Plains.
Many locations from New Mexico to Texas, reached high temperatures that either broke or tied records, while cities like Phoenix and Denver fell just short.
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On Friday, Albuquerque, New Mexico, as well as Amarillo and El Paso, Texas, all tied previous record high temperatures from 1992, reaching 88 F, 95 F and 96 F respectively.
Several locations in western Texas flirted with triple-digit temperatures on Friday. Midland, Texas, recorded a high of 101, breaking its previous record of 99 from 2009.
On Friday, Lubbock, Texas, topped out at 101, shattering its previous record of 96 in 2012. Lubbock also recorded its first 100-plus degree Fahrenheit day of the year, reaching a temperature more than 20 degrees above average for early May.
Record-challenging heat once again settled over the south-central U.S. on Saturday. Cities including El Paso and Lubbock, Texas, once again tied high temperature records.
"On Saturday, Midland, Texas, set a record high temperature of 104 F. This shatters the previous record of 98 from 2012. Midland is also on a 2-day streak of breaking both the record for high temperature and warmest low temperature on the same day," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert.
Meanwhile, highs were in the 90s for much of southern Arizona and New Mexico, through central Texas, with highs in the 80s across northern Arizona, through Oklahoma, and into southern Kansas.
Similar high temperatures are expected to persist over the area into Monday.
Unseasonable warmth will also seep eastward into the lower Mississippi Valley into Monday.
Many locations can experience temperatures 5-10 degrees above average for early May as highs in the upper 80s are forecast.
As areas across the southern tier of the U.S. deal with midsummerlike heat, many are yearning to get some fresh air during COVID-19 lockdowns.
"Anyone who does spend time in the sun should make sure to drink plenty of water, lather on the sunscreen and wear a hat to protect against sunburn and heat-related illnesses," AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff said.
With unseasonably hot and dry conditions in the forecast, the threat for wildfires will also present itself over portions of the south-central U.S. Portions of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas, will face an elevated risk for the duration of the weekend.
"An elevated risk of wildfire ignition will be present most days due to leftover dry brush from the winter and gusty winds. Higher temperatures can cause humidity levels to plummet and allow any sparks to rapidly grow into a large blaze," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Weather Forecasts
Record-challenging heat to scorch the south-central US
By Mary Gilbert, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published May 2, 2020 10:26 AM EDT
Accuweather's Dexter Henry looks at New York City's effort to provide people with more open space during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a blisteringly hot day across much of the Southwest and south-central United States on Friday and Saturday, residents may be looking for relief from the summerlike pattern.
But AccuWeather forecasters say the heat is likely to persist into Monday.
"The same pattern that caused summerlike heat to build along the California coast and sent thousands to area beaches has shifted eastward, allowing temperatures to climb over a large part of the central U.S.," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.
Related:
The major atmospheric influence on this prolonged, unseasonably hot pattern for the southwestern and south-central U.S. is the position of the jet stream. A northward bulge in the jet stream over the southwestern U.S. during much of the latter half of April allowed warmth to build significantly over the area by confining any cooler, moist air to the Pacific Northwest.
On Friday, high temperature records were in jeopardy across the Four Corners region and the southern Plains.
Many locations from New Mexico to Texas, reached high temperatures that either broke or tied records, while cities like Phoenix and Denver fell just short.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
On Friday, Albuquerque, New Mexico, as well as Amarillo and El Paso, Texas, all tied previous record high temperatures from 1992, reaching 88 F, 95 F and 96 F respectively.
Several locations in western Texas flirted with triple-digit temperatures on Friday. Midland, Texas, recorded a high of 101, breaking its previous record of 99 from 2009.
On Friday, Lubbock, Texas, topped out at 101, shattering its previous record of 96 in 2012. Lubbock also recorded its first 100-plus degree Fahrenheit day of the year, reaching a temperature more than 20 degrees above average for early May.
Record-challenging heat once again settled over the south-central U.S. on Saturday. Cities including El Paso and Lubbock, Texas, once again tied high temperature records.
"On Saturday, Midland, Texas, set a record high temperature of 104 F. This shatters the previous record of 98 from 2012. Midland is also on a 2-day streak of breaking both the record for high temperature and warmest low temperature on the same day," stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert.
Meanwhile, highs were in the 90s for much of southern Arizona and New Mexico, through central Texas, with highs in the 80s across northern Arizona, through Oklahoma, and into southern Kansas.
Similar high temperatures are expected to persist over the area into Monday.
Unseasonable warmth will also seep eastward into the lower Mississippi Valley into Monday.
Many locations can experience temperatures 5-10 degrees above average for early May as highs in the upper 80s are forecast.
As areas across the southern tier of the U.S. deal with midsummerlike heat, many are yearning to get some fresh air during COVID-19 lockdowns.
"Anyone who does spend time in the sun should make sure to drink plenty of water, lather on the sunscreen and wear a hat to protect against sunburn and heat-related illnesses," AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff said.
With unseasonably hot and dry conditions in the forecast, the threat for wildfires will also present itself over portions of the south-central U.S. Portions of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Texas, will face an elevated risk for the duration of the weekend.
"An elevated risk of wildfire ignition will be present most days due to leftover dry brush from the winter and gusty winds. Higher temperatures can cause humidity levels to plummet and allow any sparks to rapidly grow into a large blaze," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo