Have you been waiting for the summer heat? Now that we're getting a break from our daily chance for rain, our first block of warm and steamy days is coming our way.
We average 15 90°+ days a year. We're still waiting on our first for 2019, but last year brought plenty of heat. 38 days in 2018 came with highs of 90° or warmer. Chances are pretty good many of us will reach 90° by early next week.
Our pattern is changing. Instead of the active and stormy weather we dealt with much of the spring, high pressure is building to our SE. This means a southerly wind will stream warmer temperatures and more humidity our way.
Afternoon highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s will combine with the tropical humidity levels to bring feels like numbers into the lower and middle 90s for several days.
With this first round of heat, it's important to remember ways to keep you and your family safe. Avoiding the afternoon sun and peak heating hours are key. If you do have to be out in the heat, make sure to take plenty of breaks and stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
While the air temperatures are hot enough, remember that the temperature can quickly reach the triple digits inside a closed car. That's why it's so important to make it a point to check the back seat, before leaving a parked car.
This hot and drier pattern may not last too long. Rain chances are expected to return just before the July 4th holiday, which will bring temperatures back down to seasonal levels in the middle 80s. An early check of the July outlook calls for below average temperatures and near to above average rainfall.
