June 2010 might have also been hot, but it only had 21 days of highs in the 90s. In this June 20, 2010 file photo, Darrell Hendrickson, 8, cools off at the splash pad at the Jim Pielsticker Playground at Mohawk Park. MIKE SIMONS/ Tulsa World File
This is what 14 inches of snow looks like, back on Feb. 1 in downtown Tulsa. Tulsa set weather records back in February, but not for hot temperatures! CHRISTOPHER SMITH/ Tulsa World File
Remember when Tulsa broke all those snowfall records back in February? For example, the record for most snowfall in a month (22.5 inches)?
Well, it's been almost five months since that fateful 24-hour period from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1 when Tulsa recorded 14 inches. So we are due for another record weather event, right?
Almost, says Tulsa National Weather Service meteorologist Karen Hatfield. If you check our Tulsa World weather page
here, you undoubtedly have noticed that a lot of our afternoon temperatures begin with the number "9," as in 90, as in
there has been only day in Tulsa's June that hasn't had a 90-degree high. Friday marked the 23rd day of the month that we've had high temperatures in the 90s. The current record for June, set in 1911 and 1934, is 29 days. Our neighbors to the east in Fort Smith (Hi, Arkansas!) are also nearing their own city's record for the same reason.
If you hate the heat, then you'll probably want to skip
this link to Oklahoma Mesonet's page showing today's high temperatures across the state.
Yes, 100-degree weather is only a few days ahead and a few hours west of Tulsa. Why? Explains Hatfield, heat waves usually correlate well with upper level high pressure persistent over the area.
"That is what usually happens during the summer around here when we have our hottest temperatures," Hatfield said. "It would also correlate with a relative lack of precipitation because the upper level ridge pushes the jet stream (and the storm track) to the north.
"Looking at the 1934 streak, it appears that the day that the streak broke was the first significant precipitation since early June of that year."
But here's the catch: That 1934 streak wasn't the 90-degree June streak that we are likely going to tie this year. Rather, the 1934 streak was the all-time record: 79 days of highs in the 90s from June 5 until Aug. 22.
--Althea Peterson
PS: If you are missing snow yet, view photos, videos and articles about our record setting snowfall
here. And please stay safe in these high-temperature, low-precipitation times and be aware of your county's burn bans, which can be viewed
here.
