Amarillo, Texas – Residents across the Texas Panhandle should prepare for a return to typical July heat as temperatures trend above normal later this week and continue into next week, while widespread rainfall remains unlikely.
According to the National Weather Service in Amarillo, high pressure shifting across the western and central United States will allow temperatures to transition from slightly below seasonal averages in the short term to above-normal levels over the next week. Climate outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center favor warmer-than-average conditions across the Southern Plains from Friday through early next week, with Amarillo’s typical mid-July high around 92 degrees.
The warming trend is expected to affect communities including Amarillo, Borger, Canyon, Dumas, Hereford, Pampa and Dalhart. Afternoon temperatures will steadily climb as the ridge strengthens, increasing the likelihood of multiple days with highs in the 90s across much of the Panhandle.
Rainfall is expected to remain limited. The Climate Prediction Center’s 6-to-10-day outlook favors near- to below-normal precipitation across portions of the central Plains, while the Texas Panhandle is expected to see little organized rainfall. Dry conditions combined with increasing heat could lead to higher wildfire concerns where vegetation has dried.
Residents spending time outdoors should plan activities during the cooler morning or evening hours, stay hydrated and take frequent breaks in shaded or air-conditioned locations. As the hotter pattern settles in, anyone working outside should watch for signs of heat-related illness.
The National Weather Service expects the warmer-than-normal pattern to persist into next week, with additional outlooks refining how long the midsummer heat will remain across the Texas Panhandle.
