4:45pm Discussion

From Chief Meteorologist Craig Carnesi...

Showers and even a few isolated thunderstorms continue across the Big Country this evening. I expect these to cotinue into the overnight hours as another upper level distburnce rides over top of us.

We talk about these "disturbances" quite often, but they are really a simple thing to explain. There are many different kinds, but the one in particular affecting us tonight is basically a pocket of faster moving air in the middle to upper levels of the atmosphere. When air moves faster higher up in the atmosphere, air has to replace the air that has moved. So, that air has to come from somewhere, in this case, it lifts from the surface. On the way up, that air carries the water vapor with it. We all know that in most situations the temperature drops with height, eventually this air from the surface reaches a point where the dewpoint is reached. Then, saturation takes place and clouds form. Well, I think you get where I'm going with this, a fast enough "disturbance" creates the lift quick enough to get the whole process enough to where saturation takes place and eventually rain falls.

So, as this disturbance exits past the Big Country tonight into tomorrow, it will leave behind it strong subsidence, or sinking air. That sinking air combined with a Pacific Front bringing in drier air, will leave us warm and very windy.

Fire weather watches are in effect across the area through Saturday. We also look to remain very dry across the Big Country through the extended forecast.

A quick reminder, please join us in helping Habitat For Humanity this weekend as the Habitat Hoopsters take on the Harlem Ambassadors. It is a fun, family oriented night. The Harlam Ambassadors heavily involve the crowd, most specifically the kids. Tickets are just $8 for adults and $6 for children and students. Kids 5 and under are free. All of the proceeds go to the Abilene chapter of Habitat. The game begins at 7:00 p.m. Saturday night at Kimbrell Arena on the campus of McMurry University. Please come out and support a great cause and enjoy the heck out of a Saturday evening while you are at it.