Gradual cooldown to bring relief from stifling conditions in the central US

By Brett Rathbun, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

July 21,2016; 9:10PM,EDT

 

 

Those looking for a break from the heat across the central United States will be in luck as a slow cooldown is in store starting this weekend.
"High pressure centered over the central and northern Plains will hold strong through the end of the week before finally breaking this weekend," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Rinde said.
Temperatures topped out in the 90s and 100s across the majority of the Central states on Wednesday and will resume each day for most through Friday.
Most locations across the Central states will reach the peak of the heat on either Friday or Saturday. Humidity levels will remain high, which will add to the dangerous conditions.

"Triple-digit heat will be highly prominent in forecasts from the Dakotas to Texas through Friday and continuing from Kansas to Texas on Saturday," Rinde said.
AccuWeather RealFeel® temperatures will range from 105 to 120 across most of the central United States through Friday. These RealFeel® temperatures will not only occur during the afternoon hours but also during the early evening commute from work.
In some locations, it may be hot enough to cause flight delays or cancellations at local airports.
Being outdoors for an extended period of time during the afternoon hours is not recommended. Those who must work outdoors should take the necessary precautions to prevent heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
Remember to never leave children or pets unattended inside any vehicles. It only takes a few minutes for the temperature inside of a car to rise to dangerous, if not deadly, levels.
Longer-lasting relief from the heat and humidity will begin across the northern tier this weekend and the central Plains by early next week, but it will fail to reach as far south as Texas.

In the wake of a storm system pushing across the North Central states on Saturday, the trend of lower temperatures and lower humidity levels will begin.
"Temperatures will start to lower across the northern Plains on Saturday and the central Plains on Sunday," Rinde said.
This storm, however, could produce rounds of severe weather from parts of the eastern Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin on Saturday. Little shower or thunderstorm activity is expected to occur across the central Plains on Sunday.
Highs during the early part of the week will be much closer to average from Minneapolis to Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City. Average highs in these areas during late July range from the middle 80s across the Upper Midwest to near 90 over the central Plains.
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Relief from the heat will not make it as far south as Texas as highs will remain in the middle 90s to lower 100s.
However, temperatures at this level in southern areas are not uncommon during the dog days of summer. Humidity levels will remain high, making it uncomfortable for any outdoor activities.
As the heat slowly leaves the Central states this weekend, it will shift eastward to the Eastern states.