Hot Temperatures Continue With Relief On The Horizon

From Meteorologist Brandon Rector...

Good evening. I hope everyone had a nice Easter weekend. We are in a heat wave right now. It is typically considered a heat wave when two conditions are met. First, a location needs to hit 90+ degree temperatures for at least three straight days. Second, those 90+ degree temperatures must be significantly above average for that time of year. Today was the third straight day that Abilene Regional Airport recorded a temperature above 90. Our average high for this time of year is 77.

It looks like we will continue with these hot temperatures through Tuesday. Mostly sunny skies with highs in the mid to upper 90s are expected tomorrow. I am predicting a high of 98 for Abilene on Monday. If we hit that number, we would break the old record high of 95 set back in 1967. This would be our second record high in three days. On Saturday, our high of 97 at Abilene Regional Airport broke the old record of 94 set back in 1904. Tuesday should be slightly cooler due to a cold front that is expected by the afternoon. It will still be hot with highs in the low to mid 90s.

The cold front late on Tuesday will help bring temperatures back down closer to average for Wednesday through Sunday. Highs will range from the mid 70s to low 80s during that time period. The good news is that there is a chance of rain Thursday through Sunday. Right now, the chance for showers and thunderstorms ranges from about 20% to 30% on those days. The reason for the rain will be mainly due to a trough that will develop in the west. This set up should bring a few upper level distrubances toward our direction. Hopefully, we will be able to increase the chance for rain as we get a little closer to those days. We'll just have to wait and see.

Have a super Sunday evening and a magnificent Monday!