Dangerous heat to grip Vernon through early next week

Dangerous heat is expected to remain entrenched across Vernon and Wilbarger County through early next week, with afternoon temperatures approaching or exceeding 110 degrees on several days, according to the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.

A heat advisory remains in effect for Wilbarger County until 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, and another advisory has been issued from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The Weather Service said heat index values could reach 108 degrees Wednesday and 107 degrees Thursday.

At 2:55 p.m. Wednesday, the temperature at Vernon-Wilbarger County Airport was 108 degrees with relative humidity of 15%. Southwest winds were at 10 mph.

The Weather Service forecast calls for a high near 108 degrees Thursday, followed by another high near 108 Friday. Temperatures are expected to climb to about 109 Saturday and 110 Sunday and Monday before easing only slightly to around 109 Tuesday.

Overnight temperatures will provide limited relief. The low Wednesday night is expected to remain around 80 degrees, followed by lows near 78 Thursday and Friday nights, 79 Saturday night and 81 Sunday and Monday nights.

The National Weather Service said widespread dangerous heat was continuing across western North Texas and much of Oklahoma Wednesday, with temperatures generally ranging from 105 to 110 degrees across North Texas. A weak cold front moving through the region is expected to bring some relief farther north Thursday, but temperatures of 105 to 110 degrees are expected to continue across North Texas.

Any relief is expected to be short-lived. Forecasters said a strong upper-level high-pressure system, commonly referred to as a heat dome, is expected to expand east toward the Southern Plains during the weekend, allowing dangerous heat to become widespread again.

Rain chances also remain limited. The Weather Service placed the chance of showers Thursday at only about 10%, with the Vernon point forecast otherwise calling for sunny or mostly clear conditions through Tuesday.

Fire weather conditions are another concern. The Weather Service said low relative humidity and hot temperatures were producing an elevated fire-weather risk Wednesday across portions of western North Texas and Oklahoma. Relative humidity could remain in the upper teens to lower 20% range across western North Texas Thursday and Friday.