Storms south today and Friday, warm and dry weekend ahead
(KTVZ Bend, OR) Along the southern tier of Oregon there will be showers and storms developing over the next few days. These storms have the potential for generating significant lightning and gusty winds. There is a Red Flag Warning in Klamath, Harney, and Lake Counties each of the next two days, and the threat of new fire starts is on the table. These storms, although robust and dangerous, are expected to stay south of Deschutes and Crook Counties. The concern locally is that a rogue storm may drift north or develop in the heat of the day Friday. Very slight chance of that, but it is not zero.
The forecast for our area is for heat and dry conditions to define the region for the next few days. The mercury in the thermometer is likely to top out in the upper 80s Friday and the middle 80s on Saturday and Sunday. We are looking at dry and breezy weather conditions through the last weekend of July. An isolated pop-up storm is a slight chance late Sunday afternoon, so if you are out and about, always stay alert for thunder. If you hear it, take cover.
The start of the new work week will be hot as temperature readings will be in the low 90s through mid-week. The issue next week will be the isolated afternoon storms that are expected to develop in the heat of the day. I like to refer to the storms as a “pop and drop” type of storm. The sun heats the ground, the ground heats the air, the air rises and when it arrives at a level in the atmosphere cold enough for condensation to occur, the cloud formation begins. If enough moisture is available, we get an isolated storm. The mountains also are a mechanism to get the air to rise so we may see some storms near the mountains as well as the high desert.
Bottom line, there is a chance for isolated storms each day next week, nothing organized, but just as dangerous with the lightning, gusty winds and the dry lightning.
Please, stay safe and informed.
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