Oklahomans Roasting On The Open Plains- More About This Unbearab - KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - News, Weather & Sports

So.. here we are. August 1st. I guess you can say the bright side is that we're one day closer to fall, right? Yes, I know that's scraping the bottom of the barrel. But hey, we've been suffering through intense heat... we need something!

If you've been paying attention to the numbers, you've seen that we've been teetering on and breaking records for a while now. Our normal high and low temperature this time of year should be 94 and 73 respectively; we are seeing our overnight lows closer to where our daytime highs should be!

August marks an important month for Tulsa's temperature records. You see, back in 1936 we saw the mercury get to a level it never had before or since: 115.

Reality is setting in that we could see that record tied or broken this week.

Even if we don't, the latest trend has us breaking records nearly everyday. Today, for example, will most likely be a record broken two years in a row. Last year, we set a new high with 110. Today we're expecting the temps to rise to nearly 112-- if not, maybe even a touch higher. Almost unbelievable, huh?

Of course, this is all interesting to all us weather-lovers and meteorologists, but in practical terms, what does this really mean?

Well for starters, it's extremely rare to have two summers in a row with such excessive heat. A huge dome of high pressure is parked on top of us with nowhere to go. Typically, a few summer fronts may scurry through, cooling us off and giving us rain. But this dome is almost uncrackable. It will take a huge system; a big mover; a dynamic changer... it will take fall.

We need the rain too.. and although it's bad and our crops and lawns are suffering, take comfort in knowing that things are not even nearly at levels they were during the infamous "dust bowl". As the forecast stands, there is a slight chance of some rain later on in the weekend, so let's cross our fingers and toes for that.

In the meantime, the best we can do is stay hydrated and cool. I've personally switched to all water, and removed all sodas and even iced T from my daily habit. It's some good advice, that fits right along the lines of "the simpler the better". Nothing keeps your body hydrated and cool like plain ol' H20. Spend as much time inside as possible and make sure your pets are never left outside.

We can and will get through this unbearable heat... we just need a little patience. Fall may officially still be 6 weeks away, but chances are we won't have to wait that long for a little relief!

 

Andrew Kozak

Meteorologist

Tulsa's Channel 8