KOAM TV 7 Joplin and PittsburgTuesday AM July 19th

Tuesday AM July 19th

Good morning.  We just can't get a break from the heat, I am ready for a cool down.  Highs over the past couple of days have been right around 100 degrees.  Here are some stats for you since June 1st.

Monday:  99 degrees

Since June 1st we have only had 12 days with highs into the 80s

27 days with highs into the 90s

9 days with highs into the 100s

44 of the last 48 days have been at or above our average high for this time of the year.

Those are some pretty bad stats and I think we will see much of the same sticking around.  Let me show you why.

Look at the huge upper level ridge over us.  This is the huge circle in the center of the country.  This allows the heat to sit on us and forces all of the rain making waves to stay well to the north of us.  This is very similar to what we saw last October at the beginning of this pattern.  Back in October the jet stream still wasn't very strong and we saw this taking place.  Now we are really feeling the effects of this. 

We aren't going to see any changes this week as this ridge holds tight.  Now I will throw a very slight chance for a storm in the forecast on Friday as a front gets near us, but only about a 10% chance.

Here is a look at the upper level map in a week.

By next week you can see how the ridge shifts west just a bit.  We will still be hot, but this could allow a few changes.  As systems drop through the Great Lakes, it should bring cool fronts close to the area with a few chances for thunderstorms.  Then it looks like the ridge will build back in over us for the rest of the week.  Make sure you look below for your 7-day forecast and I have updated the long range forecast.

Doug

Here is the local radar:

Here

Here is a look at your latest 7-day forecast.

July (24th-30th):

Slight chances for a few thunderstorms here at the beginning of the week.  Then as another front will be near us late in the week, we will see very slight chances for thunderstorms.  I expect temperatures to stay hot all week long.

Severe threat:  none

July 31st-August 6th: 

We should see a cold front that will stall near the area early in the week.  This will give us a little better chances for thunderstorms through the first half of the week.  Also if we get this front near the area that should drop the temps a bit.  The second half of the week should be hot and dry.

Severe threat:  Low(Sunday,Tuesday, Wednesday)

August (7th-13th):

A hot and dry start to the week.  Slight chances for rain as a cold front approaches the area early in the work week.  Then mainly dry the rest of the week.  Temperatures a little cooler during the work week.  Then heating up towards the weekend. 

 severe threat:  Low(Tuesday-Friday)

August (14th-20th):

This should be a hot and dry week.  I really don't know what else to say.

Ssevere threat:  none