Saturday, July 23, 2016

By the numbers: Recapping the week's stifling central US heat

By , Senior Meteorologist
July 23,2016; 7:33PM,EDT
 
 
Stifling heat has been baking the central United States, but will finally ease across northern areas this weekend.
In the wake of a storm system sparking severe weather across the Upper Midwest, more comfortable air will pour across the north-central U.S. on Sunday.
Relief from the heat will not make it to the southern Plains, where temperatures will once again rise to the upper 90s and lower 100s F.
"Temperatures at this level in southern areas are not uncommon during the dog days of summer," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rathbun said. "However, humidity levels will remain high, making it uncomfortable for any outdoor activities."
Temperatures topped out in the 90s and 100s across the majority of the central states from Wednesday through Friday.

"The combination of the heat, humidity, sunshine and other factors sent AccuWeather RealFeel® temperatures soaring into the 110s in some locations," Rathbun said.
The intense heat put a strain on residents, leading some communities to open cooling stations.
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On Friday, all but two states across the nation recorded a high at or above 90 F as the heat expanded to the East. There were no official reporting stations in Washington and Alaska that had such temperatures.
The reprieve from the heat and humidity in the northern Plains, however, will not last long. While not to the extreme levels as recently, the steamy air will return early next week and set the stage for locally severe thunderstorms to rumble.

A youngster cools off at the Alaskan Adventure splash pad at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb., Thursday, July 21, 2016, as high temperatures and humidity affected much of the central U.S. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

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