Tuesday Night Update

From Chief Meteorologist Brandon Rector...

We had a warm and windy day across the area. Highs ranged from the upper 70s in Sweetwater and Snyder to the upper 80s in Brownwood and Comanche. Abilene's high was 84. Winds were breezy from the west and southwest.

Wednesday looks to be a warm and windy day. Highs should be in the upper 70s to mid 80s. The reason our temperatures may be a little cooler is if we are partly cloudy and not mostly sunny. A strong low pressure system should develop to our northwest over western Kansas and the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles. This will cause us to have strong west-southwest winds tomorrow. Winds look to be sustained at 15 to 25 mph with gusts as high as 35 to 40 mph. This could cause some blowing dust and dirt in our area by the afternoon. With warm temperatures, strong winds, and low relative humdity values expected, a Red Flag Warning has been issued for all counties in the viewing area expect Stephens, Eastland, and Comanche counties. Please do all you can to prevent fires tomorrow since conditions will allow any wildfires to spread rapidly. There will be better moisture in the eastern portions of the viewing area. With the dryline possibly close by, it is not out of the question for a stray shower or thunderstorm to develop in that area. The chance though is less than slight.

A cold front is expected to move through the Big Country early Thursday morning. This will cause our highs to cool down into the low to mid 60s. With dry air already in place, rain doesn't look possible. Windy conditions will remain with sustained west-northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph and higher gusts.

Below average temperatures should be with us Friday and Saturday. Highs look to be in the upper 50s to low 60s under mostly sunny skies.

Mostly sunny skies will remain with us Sunday through next Tuesday. Highs are expected to warm back up into the mid to upper 60s.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!