Heat Wave Expands to the East Coast; Flash Flooding Likely in the Central Plains into the Midwest; Severe Thunderstorms in the Northeast

Dangerous, prolonged heat is ongoing in the Mid-South to Mid-Mississippi Valley and heat expands into the Northeast for a brief period today. Widely scattered instances of flash flooding due to heavy rains are forecast from northeast Kansas to much of Indiana. Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across parts of New England, northern Mid-Atlantic, and North Dakota. Read More >

Overview

A strong upper level ridge of high pressure developed across the Ohio and Tennessee Valley, producing a record breaking early season heat wave. Numerous record highs and warm lows were established across our forecast area, including the first triple digit temperatures experienced since 2016 in Cape Girardeau, MO and 2013 in Poplar Bluff, MO. Low temperatures in the 80s were observed in several locations, setting monthly and all-time records in some cases. Heat index values exceeded 105 degrees starting on June 12 and continued through June 16. The most oppressive day was June 13th, when dewpoints in the mid 70s to around 80 produced heat index values of 110 to nearly 120.

Records
Heat Index Graphics
Upper Level Pattern

Records:

Numerous record highs and warm lows were set during this heat wave. Paducah and Evansville tied their June all-time warmest low temperature of 81 degrees. Meanwhile, Cape Girardeau broke their June record and tied their all-time warmest low record of 81 degrees. This was the earliest in the season that 80 degree low temperatures had ever been observed at all 3 of these sites. This was only the 2nd time on record that Paducah observed 4 consecutive days reaching 95 degrees this early in the season (before June 20). The other occurrence was back in 1952 with 8 straight days at or above 95 degrees from June 9-16.

Heat Index Graphics and Table:

Observed Heat Index Readings Sunday June 12th through Thursday June 16th, 2022 (Click images to enlarge)

The table below shows the maximum daily heat index readings observed at all airport locations (ASOS/AWOS) and Kentucky Mesonet stations across our 58 county forecast area. These are the most reliable and accurate stations across the region. The bottom row of the chart gives the highest daily heat index reading observed across the area from these 32 stations. The heat index is calculated from a combination of air temperatures and dewpoint temperatures or relative humidity.

Maximum Daily Heat Index Readings:

Location	State	Station Type	June 12	June 13	June 14	June 15	June 16
Cape Girardeau	MO	ASOS	110	109	104	106	109
Carbondale	IL	ASOS	109	113	107	106	109
Evansville	IN	ASOS	95	110	106	103	106
Paducah	KY	ASOS	106	106	102	101	104
Poplar Bluff	MO	ASOS	110	111	105	104	109
Cairo	IL	AWOS	113	112	106	107	109
Murray	KY	AWOS	111	110	106	105	107
Fort Campbell	KY	AWOS	97	111	104	104	101
Owensboro	KY	AWOS	98	111	107	107	106
Mayfield	KY	AWOS	108	110	103	103	106
Henderson	KY	AWOS	99	109	108	103	107
Madisonville	KY	AWOS	99	109	105	103	106
Mt Vernon	IL	AWOS	109	115	111	107	108
Fairfield	IL	AWOS	102	109	104	101	105
Carmi	IL	AWOS	109	119	109	107	112
Marion	IL	AWOS	111	119	110	109	113
5 NNE La Center (Ballard Co.)	KY	Mesonet	110	113	107	107	110
2 SE Princeton (Caldwell Co.)	KY	Mesonet	103	110	105	104	105
1 W Murray (Calloway Co.)	KY	Mesonet	106	111	106	106	106
6 N Hopkinsville (Christian Co.)	KY	Mesonet	103	113	108	108	106
4 NE Marion (Crittenden Co.)	KY	Mesonet	106	116	109	108	111
2 E Hickman (Fulton Co.)	KY	Mesonet	109	113	104	105	108
6 SW Mayfield (Graves Co.)	KY	Mesonet	112	113	107	109	109
5 E Henderson (Henderson Co.)	KY	Mesonet	101	114	110	110	110
4 S Madisonville (Hopkins Co.)	KY	Mesonet	102	115	112	111	113
4 N Benton (Marshall Co.)	KY	Mesonet	108	109	106	105	108
5 NW Calhoun (McLean Co.)	KY	Mesonet	101	114	109	109	108
6 N Greenville (Muhlenberg Co.)	KY	Mesonet	100	113	111	107	108
5 SW Elkton (Todd Co.)	KY	Mesonet	104	112	108	107	106
4 SW Cadiz (Trigg Co.)	KY	Mesonet	106	115	108	107	107
4 E Morganfield (Union Co.)	KY	Mesonet	106	116	111	112	111
1 NW Dixon (Webster Co.)	KY	Mesonet	102	110	109	107	107
Daily Maximum:			113	119	112	112	113

Upper Level Pattern

The graphics below show observed 500 mb heights, wind, and temperature. This shows the overall weather pattern approximately 20,000 feet above the surface. The higher heights are indicative of upper level ridging which originated in the southwest U.S. and built into the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys by June 14. As shortwave troughing progressed from the Northern Rockies into the Great Lakes, it squashed the ridge to the southern U.S. on June 16 and eventually repositioned it across the Central Plains by June 17-18.


Valid 7 PM Sunday June 12	Valid 7 PM Monday June 13

Valid 7 PM Tuesday June 14	Valid 7 PM Wednesday June 15

Valid 7 PM Tuesday June 16

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Heat Wave Expands to the East Coast; Flash Flooding Likely in the Central Plains into the Midwest; Severe Thunderstorms in the Northeast

Record Breaking Early Season Heat Wave June 12 - 16, 2022