The Chance For Rain Continues

From Chief Meteorologist Brandon Rector...

Showers and thunderstorms moved through mainly the eastern portions of the Big Country today. Highs were in the mid to upper 70s under mostly cloudy to cloudy skies. We had some strong winds this afternoon at Abilene Regional Airport. The wind was sustained from the south at 30 mph with a 52 mph gust this afternoon. The reason for this is what we call a heat burst. It was a small one that caused our temperature to increase about 3 degrees and our dewpoint to drop ten degrees. A heat burst is a downburst of a hot dry air from a dying thunderstorm. If the air aloft is very dry and denser than the surrounding air, it will rush to the surface. This downdraft has to reach a high velocity and that is why these heat bursts are rare.

We will continue to have a chance for showers and thunderstorms tonight through Friday. An upper level low remains to our west in the Four Corners region. It will send some disturbances this direction before the low itself moves over or just north of the area late Wednesday into Thursday. A stationary front will remain close to the area through Wednesday. These two features will be the lifting mechanisms for us during this time period. Our best chance for rain is tomorrow and Wednesday at 60%. Thursday will be a little less at 30%. There is only a 20% chance on Friday. Some of the storms we see could reach severe limits the next couple of days. We are under a slight risk for severe weather through Wednesday according to the Storm Prediction Center. There is a potential for heavy rainfall as well. Most of the Big Country is under a Flash Flood Watch through Tuesday morning. Scurry and Mitchell counties are under the watch through Wednesday evening. Some computer models are indicating over 2 inches of rain between now and Thursday. We will be keeping a close eye on this latest round of rain and possible severe weather.

This weekend is looking pleasant and dry with highs in the low to mid 80s under partly cloudy skies.

Have a terrific Tuesday!