Get Your Rain Gear Ready

From Chief Meteorologist Brandon Rector...

Hot temperatures remained across the area today. Highs were mainly in the upper 90s with Brownwood reaching 100. It was the hottest day of the year so far here in Abilene with the airport reporting a high of 97 this afternoon.

Hot and dry conditions are expected to remain through tomorrow. We could be a degree or two cooler due to a few more clouds, but highs will likely be in the mid to upper 90s.

The tropical disturbance that is currently in the Gulf of Mexico looks to be our next rainmaker. An Air Force reconnaissance aircraft, known as the hurricane hunters, investigated this system today and could not find a well-defined center. This means it is not a tropical cyclone, but it could still develop into a tropical disturbance or tropical storm in the next 24 hours. Conditions are becoming more favorable for this low pressure system to become organized and strengthen. Either way, it should be right on the Texas coast by late tomorrow night. From there, the low should move into south Texas before reaching west Texas this weekend. Our chance for rain begins on Thursday at 30% and increases to 40% on Friday. By Saturday, the chance for rain decreases back to 30% with only a slight chance on Sunday. Since this system is tropical in nature, heavy rain and flash flooding will be possible during this time period. Highs look to be in the upper 80s to low 90s.

Monday and next Tuesday should be dry with highs in the low 90s under mostly sunny skies.

Tropical depression number 4 strenghtened today and is now Tropical Storm Dean. It has winds of 40 mph and is continuing to move to the west. The storm is about 1390 miles east of the Lesser Antilles according to the latest statement from the National Hurricane Center. With it being so far out in the Atlantic Ocean right now, we have plenty of time to watch where this system goes. Stay tuned for updates.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!