Central U.S. continues to bake in heat wave
Heat continues to build across the Central U.S., where excessive heat warnings, watches, and advisories have been issued in 17 states. A strong, large ridge of high pressure, record drought in the south, and above average soil moisture in the Upper Midwest are to blame for this week's blistering heat. These events have combined to produce some extreme heat indices so far.
Selected heat index values from Sunday:
• 126°F in Newton, Iowa
• 125°F in Knoxville, Iowa
• 120°F in Mitchell, South Dakota
• 119°F in Madison, Minnesota
• 116°F in York, Nebraska
• 115°F in Bismarck, North Dakota
• 114°F in Volk/Camp Douglas, Wisconsin
• 112°F in Shawnee, Oklahoma
• 110°F in Topeka, Kansas
A The heat will stretch toward the East Coast by the end of the week, with a possible reprieve for the Upper Midwest in the forecast. However, high temperatures in the 90s are expected to remain in place through next weekend. Further south in Kansas and Oklahoma, high temperatures won't get below 100°F through Sunday.
According to the National Weather Service, extreme heat is typically the number one weather-related killer in the United States. Forecasters and public health officials alike are asking people to take precautions over the next week. Drink more water than you usually would, especially if you exercise or work outdoors. Avoid alcohol. Stay inside in air-conditioned buildings, and check on family and neighbors. Don't run the air conditioning too cool as this could lead to widespread power outages if everyone does the same. The demand on power plants will already be exceptionally high.
Local Forecasts:
• Dallas, Texas
• Amarillo, Texas
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Kansas City, Missouri
• St. Louis, Missouri
• Omaha, Nebraska
• Des Moines, Iowa
• Rapid City, South Dakota
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Fargo, North Dakota
You can find your local forecast by entering your city or zip code in the search bar at the top of the page.
Current U.S. Heat Index
This colored contour map shows current heat index. Heat index is the apparent temperature considering both the temperature and relative humidity. The key below the image shows the corresponding heat index for each color.
Current U.S. Temperature
This colored contour map shows current temperatures. The key below the image shows the corresponding temperature value for each color.
Current U.S. Relative Humidity
This colored contour map shows current relative humidity. Relative humidity is the ratio of water vapor contained in the air to the maximum amount of water vapor that can be contained in the air at the current temperature. The key below the image shows the corresponding relative humidity for each color.
Reader Comments
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9:06 PM GMT on July 18, 2011
Almost 6 yr's post K here, so we Hoping steering favors recurve-ature in the Atlantic.
...on a recent note,
Arctic sea cover shrinking at record pace
The annual Arctic slush cup has begun to sizzle in earnest, with the worst July coverage yet reported by satellite monitoring.
Damaged by the early start to the melt season and then basked in much warmer air than normal, Arctic sea ice has shrunk so fast during the past few weeks that it's now dipped into record minimum territory for the time of year, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
Arctic sea ice extent declined at a rapid pace through the first half of July, and is now tracking below the year 2007, which saw the record minimum September extent, the NSIDC reported in its latest sea ice update.
As of July 17, the area of the Arctic Ocean covered by ice had shrunk to 2.92 million square miles -- the smallest extent ever seen for mid-July since satellite monitoring began in the 1970s. It's 865,000 square miles below the average cover for that date seen between 1979 and 2000. A frozen polar bear-and-seal habitat larger than Alaska and California combined has been transformed into mostly open water.
Although maps generated by satellite analysis show the pack has retreated far north from the shores of Alaska's Beaufort and Chukchi seas, the extent of sea ice was particularly low in the Barents, Kara, and Laptev seas of the far northern Atlantic Ocean, and along Canada in Hudson and Baffin bays, the NSIDC reported.
During the first half of July, a high-pressure cell persisted over the northern Beaufort Sea, as it did in June, and is linked to the above-average air temperatures over much of the Arctic Ocean, the NSIDC report explained. To date in July, air temperatures over the North Pole were (11 to 14 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than normal.
For more details and analysis, plus NSIDC's usual collection of easy-to-read charts and maps, go to the sea ice portal.
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