Warmer Temperatures Return This Weekend:

Good Morning from KRBC Meteorologist Chris Whited...

* Mostly cloudy conditions will remain in place for your Friday and into Friday night for Abilene and the Big Country. Highs today will range from the the upper 40s to the lower 50s. Temperatures tonight will be above freezing in the middle to upper 30s.

* Weekend: A gradual warming trend starts as we head into the weekend with temperatures back into the 60s by Saturday and even warmer on Sunday with highs in the 70s. Overnight lows will go back above freezing in the upper 30s and lower 40s. Mostly cloudy on Saturday then becoming partly cloudy by Sunday.

* Abilene & Wylie High Games: If your heading to Dallas or Waco for either the Abilene High or Wylie High football games on Saturday expect a mostly cloudy day at both stadiums. There is a chance for an isolated shower or two for both games. Highs in the 60s at both locations.

* Next Week: We're still into the upper 60s and lower 70s on Monday but cooling back into the 40s Tuesday and 50s on Wednesday with our next cold front arriving. No rain with the front based on the model data this morning. We're back below freezing for lows by the middle of next week.

* Winter Outlook: The Climate Prediction Center indicates a moderate El Niño pattern is taking shape and will bring West Central Texas a wetter pattern for the winter months. There is also a chance for increased winter precipitation depending on temperature trends. Data suggests equal chances of above or below normal temperatures, so more than likely the numbers will remain near normal for this time of year.

* Drought Information: For the lastest drought information for the state of Texas please visit the U.S Drought Monitor website by clicking here. The data is updated by the government every Thursday morning around 7:30 AM.

* The latest on your forecast as well as news from around Abilene & the Big Country is coming up on KRBC's Abilene Today starting at 6:00 AM and on Abilene Midday later this morning at 11:30 AM. More news and weather coverage continues this afternoon at 5:00 and tonight 6:00 and 10:00 PM on KRBC.

* Twitter: You can follow us on twitter anytime for quick weather updates, especially during severe weather and winter weather events affecting the Big Country by visiting the KRBC Weather Twitter. You can also check out news updates from KRBC via twitter also by visiting the Big Country Homepage Twitter.

Have a nice weekend ...