Record heat takes aim at Southern Plains with Texas, Oklahoma in the bull's-eye
Relentless triple-digit heat is tightening its grip on the Southern Plains, with Texas and Oklahoma facing more potential records as worsening drought and a lack of rain add to the concern.
THE TAKEAWAY
The relentless heat baking the southern U.S. is shifting its grip, but not letting go, as triple-digit temperatures persist across the Southern Plains and expand into the Southwest.
Triple-digit temperatures will continue through at least Tuesday, with numerous daily records threatened from Texas and Oklahoma to New Mexico and Arizona.
EXTREME HEAT SAFETY: RECOGNIZING SIGNS OF HEAT ILLNESS AND HOW TO TREAT IT
Daily heat records could fall in major cities, including Dallas, Austin, Oklahoma City and Albuquerque, as afternoon temperatures soar into the triple digits, with highs between 100 and 110 degrees.
Added humidity could make the extreme heat even more dangerous, pushing feels-like temperatures above 110 degrees for millions.
EXTREME HEAT SAFETY: HOW TO PREPARE AND STAY COOL DURING A HEAT WAVE
Extreme summer heat is nothing new across the Southern Plains, but stretches this hot for this long are far less common.
FIRST TASTE OF FALL ON THE WAY AS COOLER AIR TARGETS THE EASTERN US
Dallas, for example, has reached 105 degrees for five consecutive days, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Looking ahead to September, long-range forecasts favor above-average temperatures across much of the Southwest and Southern Plains, where numerous locations are already experiencing their warmest year on record.
Texas and Oklahoma remain in the bullseye of the extreme heat, compounding already worsening drought conditions across the region.
FRENCH TOURIST DIES IN NATIONAL PARK AFTER BECOMING STRANDED IN TRIPLE-DIGIT HEAT
Texas is experiencing a rapidly developing drought, with 77% of the Lone Star State now facing some level of drought conditions, up 20 percentage points from last week.
While the most extreme drought is concentrated across portions of the Texas Panhandle, conditions along the heavily populated Interstate 35 corridor are drawing significant attention.
Several major Texas cities, including Dallas, San Antonio and Waco, have yet to record a drop of rain this month, marking the driest start to August on record for all three.
HOW HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE DRIVE THE WEATHER
Relief isn't on the immediate horizon, either, with extended forecasts showing little to no rain across the region for at least the next seven days.
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