Good Morning from KRBC Meteorologist Chris Whited...*** Flash Flood Watch in effect from 7:00 A.M. CDT this morning through Friday evening for all of West Central Texas ***
* We can thank a frontal boundary and a tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico for the threat of flash flooding and our rainy forecast for the next few days. Tropical moisture will continue to increase across the area today, tonight and on Friday as Tropical Depression Two (forecast to become Tropical Storm "Bonnie") over the western Gulf of Mexico approaches the coast down in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Just like we saw with "Alex" ample moisture is going to rotate around the tropical system and stream northwestward across all of Texas. A cold front currently to our north will more southward into the Southern Plains and into the Big Country today and into tonight. The front is expected to stall over the area by Friday morning. With the frontal boundary in the area interacting with the deep tropical moisture widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected.
* Locally heavy rainfall is possible the next few days creating the threat of flash flooding across the Big Country, the Northern Heartland and the Northern Concho Valley. Highs will range in the lower to middle 80s thanks to clouds and rainfall in the area. Some spots may possibly stay a bit cooler. Overnight lows will hold into the upper 60s and the lower 70s.
* Hot Weather Safety: Medical experts remind everyone to be extremely careful when outside in the very hot weather. Some safety tips recommended include drinking plenty of water and taking frequent breaks in a cool spot. Also be sure to check on the elderly and your pets. You should also wear light colored clothing and don't forget to apply the sunscreen regularly. If you can you should up off your outdoor activities until early in the morning and into the evening to avoid the peak heating hours. An average of 175 Americans succumb to hot weather during the summer months across the country.
* Tropics: For the latest information please visit the National Hurricane center website by their website by clicking here. The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season will end on November 30th.
* Drought Information: For the latest 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 local time.
* KRBC has you covered with the latest news and weather information this morning on Abilene Today at 6:00 A.M. and later this morning on Abilene Midday at 11:30 A.M. Our news and weather coverage continues this afternoon at 5:00 and tonight 6:00 and 10:00 P.M. You can always get news information anytime on our website at BigCountryHomepage.Com.
* KRBC on 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. News updates from KRBC and our website BigCountryHomepage.Com are available via twitter also by visiting the Big Country Homepage Twitter.
Enjoy your Thursday...
