Margie Bettis waters the lawn at her home in Tulsa on Saturday. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for Tulsa County on Saturday as the heat index climbed to nearly 105 degrees. MATT BARNARD/ Tulsa World
This looks like a pretty spectacular way to cool down:
While being pelted with a water balloon thrown by a spectator, Mary Janette Hammack, front, avoids a hay bale obstacle on the course of the third-annual Tulsa Big Wheel Race Saturday. JEFF LAUTENBERGER/ Tulsa World
I haven’t been outside much this afternoon, and I’m not sure that I’m both brave and hydrated enough to venture away from the Tulsa World’s powerful air conditioners.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for Saturday, with a heat index at 105 observed Saturday afternoon. A
map of heat indices from the Oklahoma Mesonet is Sooner red, save for the streak of near-110 areas in central and southwest Oklahoma.
Tulsa just went more than 16 days with highs over 90 degrees, broken Thursday by a mild 87-degree day, according to the NWS weather station at Tulsa International (Why is it there, you ask? I'll let Althea
tell you). McAlester set a record Friday with the highest recorded minimum temperature of 79 degrees.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s hot outside. It’s been hot outside. And while there is rain in the forecast over the next few days, so are temperatures upward of 95 degrees.
However, we still haven’t hit 100 degrees this year (but we came close today, at 98 degrees). So, I guess I should save my complaining about the heat until there is really something to complain about.
There is relief on the horizon. Right now, the
NWS forecast for Tuesday is 86 (!) degrees, with a 40 percent chance of storms.
Hey, do you remember about four months ago? When Tulsa was breaking nearly every snow record in the book? Doesn’t seem so bad now, huh? Of course, then we (or maybe just me…) were saying “Come on, summer!” Well...we got our wish.
--Jerry Wofford
