Burn Baby…Burn

I just got back today from a wonderful week visiting family in Montana. Highs in the 80’s, lows in the 50’s. It was AWESOME!

I stepped outside the terminal at DFW and was blasted by the 100 degree late afternoon heat I’ve come to know so well. Yep, I was home.

As we drove up the driveway I noticed all the new brown spots in our yard and how shriveled and brown all my beautiful Lillies and flowers look that I worked so hard to grow these past few months.

I looked at the forecast models this evening, and the pattern that’s setting up for the next week tells me that we all need to prepare for a wicked week of heat.  Not necessarily record heat, but that  burn-your-landscape-if-you-don’t-water-more kind of week.

Expect highs between 100 and 105, with Friday possibly the hottest day between now and Sunday.

Here is a little look at just one of the numerical models meteorologists look to for guidance on highs and lows.

(X means Maximum temp- the N means Minimum temp)
KDFW NAM MOS GUIDANCE 7/09/2009 0000 UTC
DT                    /JULY 9 /                          JULY 10 /                     JULY 11 /
HR 06 09 12 15 18 21 00 03 06 09 12 15 18 21 00 03 06 09 12 18 00
X/N                                103                  79             104                   79       102

So even the computer guidance, which often underestimates the highs this time of year are indicating a rough 2-3 days ahead, and the long range isn’t much better.

The highs even through much of next week will stay close to the century mark, if not higher.

I’m showing you a peek at the latest Climate Prediction Center forecast for the country through July. It looks hot for us and dry.

July Temp Outlook

July Precip Outlook

While this isn’t unusual by any means, it does mean that our energy and water bills will be a painful sight! Maybe August will bring some tropical relief.

Is it October yet?

Until next time….KK