Weather’s getting wild, must be Pioneer Days week

May 2, 2012

Wyatt Jones directs traffic in the rain at the Henry C. Hitch rodeo arena on May 6, 2006. Despite drought conditions and a burn ban, it rained during Pioneer week that year. The week of Pioneer Days has seen everything from record heat to severe storms to snow. Staff file photo/Shawn Yorks

It is always a guessing game when it comes to the weather during Pioneer Days. The Panhandle is infamous for its unpredictable weather, being sunny and 90 degrees one minute, and then pouring rain and 40 degrees the next.
Although the weather man let us down at times, we have high hopes for his predictions this weekend for the Pioneer Days Rodeo.
In the past there has been snow, rain, sun, heat, freezing temperatures, and normal temperatures during the Pioneer Days festivities.
What drastic measures will the weather take us through this year? It looks like its going to be heat, heat, sunshine, and more heat. The highs for the rest of the week range from 91-99 degrees. The normal high and low for this time of year is 75-45.
No snow in sight, and so far, no more rain either. However; one thing that never changes about the Panhandle, is the fact that the weather is constantly changing, so it is best to be prepared for anything. So, along with having sunscreen, flip flops, and hats, you may want to have an umbrella and a jacket just in case the weather decides to take a surprise turn that we and the weather man are unable to predict.