Palo Duro Extreme Heat Study Summer 2021

Data collection continues in the Park, but Intensive Observations have been shut down since June 24th due to additional heavy rain and cool temperatures! WTAMU students will be going to the park to check for flood losses on the sensors along the stream in the next week. National Weather Service data on the streak of cool temperatures are shown below, as well as the radar precipitation estimates for the last 2 weeks, where most areas in the region have had 5-10 inches of precipitation!  

WTAMU students conducted the Third Intensive Observational Period on Sunday 20 June. Activities included repairing some stations and downloading data, as well as an afternoon weather balloon lauch that sampled the environment where weak thunderstorms were trying to break the cap with help from intense heating from the canyon walls. The high temperature in the Park was 104.8degrees F at the Texas Tech floor station! The second successful weather balloon launch was also conducted. Photos from the operations are posted below. 

WTAMU students conducted the second Intensive Observational Period on Sunday 20 June. The high temperature in the Park was 106.7 degrees F! The day was characterized by hot temperatures. While not as moist as IOP 1, southeasterly flow and dew points around 50 degrees kept the humidity higher than on some hot days in the Canyon. The first successful weather balloon launch was also conducted. Photos from the operations are posted below. 

  URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Amarillo TX 1253 PM CDT Sun Jun 20 2021 TXZ008-317-210100- /O.CON.KAMA.HT.Y.0003.210620T1800Z-210621T0100Z/ Hutchinson-Palo Duro Canyon- Including the cities of Borger and Palo Duro Canyon State Park 1253 PM CDT Sun Jun 20 2021 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Temperatures of 106 to 107 degrees expected. * WHERE...Hutchinson County and Palo Duro Canyon. * WHEN...From 1 PM this afternoon to 8 PM CDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exh...

https://www.newschannel10.com/video/2021/06/11/video-good-news-doppler-dave-visits-with-wt-environmental-science-group-studying-heat-dangers-canyon/

WTAMU students successfully conducted their first Intensive Observational Period 1 (IOP1) on Thursday 10th June, 2021 for this collaborative study with the Amarillo National Weather Service. Great job students on braving the excessive heat and driving 5 transects from the visitor center to the southeast corner of the park during this IOP. Doppler Dave also tagged along with the students to document the IOP for his Good News With Doppler Dave, we will post the link to that story tomorrow. The high temperature at the Texas Tech mesonet station reached a high of 107 degrees after 5 pm. However, very interesting pulse-like surges of cooler (but still very hot) and more humid air appeared to advect up the Canyon during this IOP, with frequent changes in dew points and humidity in the afternoon in the Canyon, effectively resulting in a "stationary" dry line feature today. A spatial and elevational analysis of the 21 Temperature and Humidity sensors throughout the Palo Duro Canyon P...

108 was the high temperature in Palo Duro Canyon on Wednesday; The National Weather Service Forecast for Thursday is 109!