Southern Plains faces weather flip flop: From hot to not

The southern Plains are in for a wild weather ride this week, as a dramatic shift in weather patterns will break the heat dome that has had the region sweltering all summer. A cool breeze will roll in, giving people, livestock, air conditioning units and the stressed energy grid a well-deserved break.

The first signs of change swept in Monday morning as clouds and rain danced across Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. But that's just the beginning of the transition because conditions are going to stay on the cool side. In many cases across northern Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, this could be the coolest stretch of weather since May.

The driver of this weather pattern change is a cold front, which is making a rare plunge across the southern Plains. Residents can say goodbye to scorching highs in the 90s and 100s, as places like Oklahoma City, and Dallas are set to enjoy afternoon highs in the 70s and lower 80s.

As the cool air rolled in, temperatures failed to surpass the 70-degree mark in Amarillo, Texas, and temperatures were no higher than the mid-60s in Dodge City, Kansas, on Monday.

As residents have roasted under the relentless summer sun, drought conditions have only worsened, but there is hope on the horizon. This week's weather pattern will bring much-needed rain, although the region will need a lot more to return things to normal.

A surge of atmospheric energy from the Four Corners region promises to deliver another wave of much-needed rainfall by Wednesday in portions of Texas and Oklahoma. And the good news keeps on coming, as Thursday looks like another day to keep the umbrella handy.

"Areas of rain and gusty thunderstorms may try to break the heat by shaving off several degrees a bit farther to the southeast in Texas by the end of the week in the zone from Austin to San Antonio and Laredo, Texas," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.

But that's not all, as the lucky streak of wet weather could extend into the weekend, thanks to another potent cold front poised to sweep through the southern Plains between Friday and Sunday.

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