A Taste of Fall: Central U.S. Keeps Its Cool in the Dog Days of August This Week

Jonathan Erdman

Published: August 2, 2020

A cool taste of fall will be in place over the central U.S. this week, typically in the heart of the dog days of summer.

In parts of the South and northern tier of the country, the first half of August is usually the hottest time of year.

But the weather pattern set up this first week of August may send some looking for a light jacket, at least in the morning.

Early this week, the jet stream will buckle well north into Hudson Bay, Canada. Immediately east of that high-pressure ridge, the jet will then plunge south over the nation's mid-section.

While not as impactful as a nosediving jet stream ushering in subzero cold in the middle of winter, this pattern will keep the nation's heartland quite cool by early August standards.

(MAPS: Average Monthly Highs and Lows)

Jacket Weather?

You'll probably most notice this cool weather in the morning.

In parts of Oklahoma and Arkansas, where heat and humidity are typically the norm in early August, they might be able to give the air conditioning a break and open windows at night. Morning lows, there, will dip into the low 60s early this week.

Farther north, you'll need a jacket on your morning walk.

Lows in the 50s are possible as far south as the Ozarks, and low 50s may flirt with daily records in Kansas City, a morning chill more typical for the first days of fall in late September, there.

And if you're camping in the northwoods of Minnesota, Wisconsin or Michigan, expect wake-up temperatures in the 40s.

(MAPS: 10-Day U.S. Forecast Highs and Lows)

Daytime highs will be quite comfortable, again by typical dog days of summer standards.

Instead of 90s with oppressive humidity, highs should hold in the low or mid-80s as far south as Oklahoma and Arkansas, with tolerable humidity.

Seventies for highs will cover much of the Plains and Midwest early in the week, with a few northern Great Lakes locations holding in the 60s.

Dog Days Return?

This couldn't last long in the dog days of summer.

By the end of the week, this taste of fall should erode, with 80s returning to much of the Midwest and 90s back in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, much of the Plains, Midwest and Northeast is likely to be hotter than average from next weekend into the second week of August.

(MORE: August Temperature Outlook)

6- to 10-Day Temperature Outlook

So, you can probably keep the jackets in the back of the closet for awhile, even if you need them early this week.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.