Ozone alert on Friday; hot and humid weather returns this weekend

Due to a persistent weak disturbance combined with a low-level jet stream, isolated showers and thunderstorms are still possible Friday morning across northeastern Oklahoma into southeast Kansas, southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas.

Is there a chance of rain in Oklahoma this weekend?

The chance for the Tulsa metropolitan area is at or below 10% early in the morning. Later Friday night into the early hours of Saturday, there is a slight chance of isolated storms in northernmost parts of Oklahoma and southern Kansas.

These low probabilities will decrease as the low mountain ridge expands from the west, causing sinking and compressed air. This will lead to increasing heat and humidity on Friday and continue into the weekend and early next week.

Morning lows in the 70s and 80s are expected Sunday through at least Wednesday, with afternoon highs around 90 degrees. Weakness in the upper ridge could allow a weak surface front to move into northern Oklahoma, increasing the likelihood of more organized storms Wednesday night into Thursday and bringing cooler temperatures for a day or two.

What will the weather be like in Oklahoma on Friday, July 12?

Maximum temperatures on Friday are expected to be between 35 and 40 degrees. After a light cloud cover in the morning, we will experience predominantly sunny skies with southerly winds of 16 to 32 km/h. The heat index is expected to be between 38 and 40 degrees.

While heat warnings may not be issued on Friday, data suggests these levels will rise over the weekend, raising increased concerns about heat stress.

What is an ozone alarm?

An ozone warning is in effect for the Tulsa metropolitan area on Friday, meaning conditions are favorable for the formation of ozone near the ground, potentially leading to levels that are harmful to health.

Ozone in the upper parts of the atmosphere protects us from harmful radiation, but is not healthy in the lower parts of the atmosphere. Ground-level ozone forms under certain environmental conditions that can occur on Friday.

EMSA HEAT SAFETY TIPS:

1. Staying hydrated is key to preventing heat-related illness. Drink plenty of water or electrolyte drinks several hours before and during prolonged exposure to summer heat.
2. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and a wide-brimmed hat when working outdoors, and take frequent breaks in the shade.
3. No alcohol or caffeine.
4. If you don’t have air conditioning, find a cooling station or a public place (such as libraries or shopping malls) during the day.
5. Do not restrict the use of the air conditioning.
6. When working outside, use the buddy system and look out for older neighbors.
7. Always carry a mobile phone with you when outdoors, including when walking, running daily errands, gardening, or participating in sports or physical activity.

Friday and Saturday will be quiet, but more storms are forecast for late Sunday, increasing the chance of some strong to severe storms during this period.

Power outages across Oklahoma:

There are several utilities and electric cooperatives in Northeast Oklahoma, many with overlapping service areas. Below is a link to various outage maps.

PSO failure map

OG&E Outage Map

VVEC outage map

Indian Electric Cooperative (IEC) outage map

Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives outage map – (Note that several smaller cooperatives are included)

Link to Alan Crone’s morning weather podcast from Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/03KuCPYyb4hNFyC42Yo6Bt

Link to the morning weather podcast by Alan Crone from Apple:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weather-out-the-door/id1499556141?i=1000656145416

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