A heat wave is settling into Lubbock and West Texas, with high temperatures topping 100 degrees expected from Wednesday through at least Monday.
Joe Jurecka, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Lubbock, spoke with the A-J about potential factors and what to expect over the next few weeks.
Jurecka shared that the record for the highest temperature in Lubbock is 114, but the highest temperature predicted for this heat wave should be 105 to 108.
“It’s going to be hot, and it’s a little bit more humid than typical out here as well. So people may want to be a little bit more cognizant that it’s going to feel worse than it normally is out here,” Jurecka said.
Jurecka said the last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August are typically the hottest period of the year, and this year’s temperatures are in line with those expectations.
“It all depends on what you want to define as a heat wave. There’s no formal definition for that,” Jurecka said. “Wednesday’s high is 102, 104 on Thursday and 104 on Friday. That’s 10 to 12 degrees above normal. But as far as it being unusual? No.”
Jurecka said West Texas’ summer heat is caused by a dome of high pressure that settles over the central United States, trapping hot air and preventing cooler air from moving into the region, therefore allowing temperatures to continue climbing.
The weekend is expected to be slightly cooler than the rest of the week, with a slight chance of precipitation and a cloud cover helping keep temperatures down. However, he said hot conditions are expected through at least the middle of next week.
“The humidity is going to be higher than what I would say average is for West Texans during the summer, by a little bit, and so that’s going to drain people a bit faster probably,” Jurecka said.
Jurecka said Lubbock residents should take proper hot-weather precautions by staying hydrated and limiting outdoor activity during the afternoon and early evening.
Sofia Bueno is a 2026 summer reporting intern for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and a journalism student at Texas Tech. Have a news tip? Email the A-J at newmedia@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Heat wave settles over Lubbock, West Texas to end July
Reporting by Sofia Bueno, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Sofia Bueno, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal | USA TODAY Network
