Hot, Humid Friday, Chance Showers/Storms Over the Weekend.

As you can see from the map on the right, we will be entering a more unsettled period over the course of the coming week with increasing chances of showers/storms. The QPF map on the right suggests some locations across the state could receive as much as 2" or more during that time period. After a relatively wet, mild start to the month of June, the last few days have been at the other extreme so this will provide a nice break as we head into Summer.

Actually, we have enjoyed a bit of a break today in the sense that we have had lighter winds from a more easterly direction. The weak frontal boundary that moved through did not do much more than change the wind direction. However, despite the full sunshine, temperatures have been running a few degrees below the levels of the last few days.

However, Friday will be more into the hot & humid category with daytime highs back into the mid 90s and a minimum relative humidity only dropping to near the 50% level which will push the heat index up into triple digits most likely.

After that, the unsettled period mentioned above will begin to impact our weather with more cloudiness for the weekend and an increasing chance of showers/storms. A disturbance now located along the Rio Grande River valley in extreme S Texas will be drifting around the upper level ridge that has been sitting on top of us. The ridge aloft will be weakening allowing that disturbance to move across the state bringing the clouds, chance of rain, and also a break in temperatures. Lower 90s and even some upper 80s are then expected for early next week. Also, the more NW flow that will be setting up over the weekend and into early next week will allow for additional disturbances to come our way keeping at least a chance of showers/storms into the Tue/Wed time frame the way things are looking right now.

Bottom line is that this should provide not only a break in the heat of the last few days, but if that QPF map verifies, then our soils and vegetation would remain relatively moist which also acts to dampen the impact of that hot summer sun. And, if we can get systems coming our way every week or two keeping things from drying out too badly, then we will have a more ‘normal' summer as compared to the extremes of the last two years.

So, stay tuned and check back for updates.

Dick Faurot