Hottest weather of season to bake southern Plains as Saharan dust creates hazy conditions

While it has already been abnormally hot in the southern Plains since the start of May, Mother Nature is cranking up the heat yet another notch into the weekend.

The core of the heat dome will build over Texas and Oklahoma and may budge northward into southern Kansas for a day or two this week.

High temperatures will average 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit above normal into Sunday.

Normal high temperatures in mid-July are generally in the lower to middle 90s across Texas and Oklahoma.

Dry weather and scorching sunshine are forecast to accompany the heat, so the moderate to extreme drought currently gripping the region will only be exacerbated.

Lubbock and Amarillo, Texas, have only received about half of their normal rainfall since May 1, and Dallas has only picked up slightly more than 3 inches of rain in the same span.

Saharan dust to create a hazy sky at times

Accompanying the heat and sunshine will be a periodic hazy sky overhead in parts of southern and central Texas.

"The haze is due to dust from the Sahara Desert being blown thousands of miles to the west," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Dean DeVore.

The dust is more common in the Caribbean islands but occasionally can make its way into Mexico and parts of the Florida Peninsula and Texas.

Heat to stress crops, raise wildfire danger

The abnormally hot and dry weather will continue to take a toll on crop growth and the agricultural well being of the region.

Parched soil and farmland will prevent crops from receiving the moisture they need to grow and develop.

“In addition, this long stretch of dry and hot conditions can heighten the fire risk since vegetation will continue to dry out,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Maggie Samuhel warned.

Residents planning prolonged outdoor activities or those whose jobs require them to be outdoors should take frequent breaks and be sure to drink plenty of fluids.

It is imperative to stay hydrated in extreme heat to avoid heat-related illness such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

"Intake of alcoholic beverages should be limited, especially when there is no means to keep cool, such as in air conditioning,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.

“Ensure that the elderly, children, those with respiratory illnesses and pets are finding ways to stay cool, and remember to never leave a child or animal in a sealed vehicle without air conditioning, even for a short time,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski.

The highest temperature reached in Dallas so far this year has been 106 F, which was achieved on Wednesday. Through at least Sunday, high temperatures are expected to match or exceed this number and challenge or break records.

Temperatures should also soar past the century mark on multiple days this week in Amarillo, Lubbock, San Antonio and Oklahoma City.

The nighttime will not offer much relief from the oppressive conditions as overnight lows only dip into the middle 70s to lower 80s F.

Fortunately, humidity levels will not be that high this week, so AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures should remain within a few degrees of the actual air temperature.

Although the northern edge of the heat will be trimmed this weekend as a push of cooler and more refreshing air dives southward from the northern Plains, the heat dome will hold its ground across Texas and Oklahoma through at least the early part of next week.

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