Coldest Air Of The Season (So Far) Almost Here

From Meteorologist Brandon Rector...

We started off a bit chilly this morning with temperatures in the upper 30s to upper 40s across the area. It looks like we'll have mild, above-average temperatures this afternoon with highs in the mid 70s. Enjoy it because major changes are expected tomorrow. Our first Arctic cold front of the season should arrive by Tuesday morning. Highs will be reached early in the day and they will likely be in the upper 50s to low 60s. Temperatures should drop by the afternoon hours once the front has passed by and the cold, dry air begins filtering into the Big Country. A wind advisory is in effect for most of the area for Tuesday because winds are expected to be from the north at 20 to 30 mph. There could be some gusts of 35 to 40 mph.

It looks like we will see our first freeze Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. In fact a freeze watch is already in effect for most of the area for that time period. Go ahead and make preparations now for your pets, plants, pipes and anything else that is sensitive to freezing conditions. Lows should be in the mid 20s to around 30. This first freeze of the season would be a few days ahead of our average first freeze which is November 19. Wednesday through Friday should be nice and cool with mostly sunny skies. Highs are expected to be in the mid 50s to low 60s and lows in the mid 30s to around 40.

We will probably add another tropical storm to the list in what has already been a historic 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. According to the 11 a.m. AST advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Depression number 27 has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph and is moving to the west-northwest at 7 mph. It is located in the eastern Carribean Sea moving away from the Windward Islands. The latest projections have this system becoming a tropical storm later today or tomorrow and moving west across the Carribean Sea. If T.D. # 27 becomes a tropical storm, it will be named Gamma and would be the 24th named storm of the season. We'll continue to keep you updated.

Have a magnificent Monday!