Amarillo forecast calls for even warmer days ahead due to heat dome

As many areas have experienced the recent rise in temperatures due to the national "heat dome" weather occurrence, local meteorologists explain what this will mean for the Texas Panhandle and Amarillo, specifically, as it continues to affect most of the country.

A heat dome is described by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as hot ocean air trapped by the atmosphere over a certain area. "This happens when strong, high-pressure atmospheric conditions combine with influences from La Niña, creating vast areas of sweltering heat that gets trapped under the high-pressure "dome," NOAA explained in a news release. As a result of this weather phenomenon, millions across the nation are experiencing sweltering heat, oppressive conditions and dangerous heat indices across the Plains, South and Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee Valleys.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), in addition to the heat dome, incoming Tropical Storm Harold was expected to affect parts of South Texas with heavy rain, flash and urban flooding, tropical storm conditions, coastal flooding and even a couple of tornadoes.

With both of these weather occurrences in mind, Luigi Meccariello, Lead Meteorologist for the National Weather Service of Amarillo, explains the upcoming weather expected locally over the week leading into the next, with above average temperatures as we have seen this past week, and the chance for a few rainstorms resulting from the tropical storm.

"Since we are closer to Kansas City where that heat dome currently resides, than we are to South Texas with Tropical Storm Harold, we are more under the influence of a hot, dry air mist versus any rainfall on the peripheral of that weather system," Meccariello said.

"We will remain dry here in the Panhandle area at least over the next couple of days. The only chance for precipitation that we will receive at this time is any rogue shower or thunderstorm that pops up near the Texas/New Mexico state line, which has a pretty low chance of occurring," Meccariello added.

The meteorologist said Amarillo recently broke a day's record last Friday, with a high of 105 degrees breaking the approximate 20-year-old record of 104 degrees set in 1994. For the rest of the week, the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles are expecting to see highs in the 90s, and the chance for low triple digits continue over the next few days into the weekend, with highs in Palo Duro Canyon expected to reach up to 104 degrees.

According to the Meccariello, although the Texas Panhandle was declared to be out of a drought at the beginning of the summer, with the recent heat and drying weather, Amarillo could be at risk to enter a drought if this recent pattern proceeds.

"Early summer, all of the Panhandle was out of a drought completely, but as of right now, for parts of the Panhandle area, including Amarillo, it is considered abnormally dry. We are not currently in a drought, but from about mid-July to now, we have had a long period of drying out. And these high temperatures are keeping everything dry. With the surplus of rainfall that we have had so far, it is covering for our current drier second half of summer, but there is potential for drought conditions to come back in again," Meccariello said.

For the upcoming triple digit weather, the NWS recommends that individuals planning to be outside for an extended period practice heat safety, including taking frequent breaks in a shaded area, drinking lots of water, not overexerting themselves, wearing light colored clothing, and trying to be indoors during peak heating hours.

Signs of heat exhaustion or heat stoke include feeling dizzy, nausea, confusion, heavy sweating, and muscle weakness. If an individual is experiencing these symptoms while outdoors, it is advised to allow them to sit in a cool or shaded area immediately, drink cool or cold fluids, loosen clothing and if possible stand in a cool shower, soak in a cool bath or apply towels soaked in cool water to the skin.

In addition, electricity providers in the Southwest Power Pool including Xcel Energy expect a spike in demand as extreme heat spreads across the central U.S. this week, prompting Xcel Energy and other member companies to encourage conservation among their customers. As part of Xcel Energy’s shared responsibility through the Southwest Power Pool, if emergency conditions arise, customers could be asked to reduce energy use. In an extreme situation, controlled power outages could be used to help reduce energy use on the larger regional grid; however, Xcel does not expect controlled outages would be needed at this time.

For more information on this week's forecast, visit the NWS of Amarillo online at https://www.weather.gov/ama/ .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: NWS: Potential drought, warmer temps to come for Texas Panhandle area