Good Morning from KRBC Meteorologist Chris Whited...* No change in the current pattern expected today across West Central Texas today. Just like the last few days we'll start off sunny to mostly sunny and warm but look for more clouds to develop by midday and into the afternoon. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are again possible this afternoon and this evening with about a 20-percent chance. Another hot summer day ahead with highs once again in the upper 90s/low 100s with overnight lows in the middle and upper 70s. Heat Index values later this afternoon will range from 100-105 across the area.
* High pressure will still dominate our forecast into the weekend but will build more to our west. Expect a mostly sunny to partly cloudy sky each day and a mostly clear sky each night. Temperatures will remain above normal and hot into the upper 90s and the lower 100s with overnight lows in the middle and upper 70s. The heat index each afternoon will hover around and over 100.
* Next Week: Models runs this morning are backing off on rain chances and slightly cooler weather that has been advertised the last few days. The frontal boundary will push down across Texoma and should stall around that region by the late weekend and early next week. One or two models are still trying to bring it into the Big Country before stalling the boundary. I'm still going to include a 20-percent chance for rain on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I raised the temperatures a degree or two based on model trends into the upper 90s. If the front manages to make it a little more south I'll have to lower the numbers back some for early next week.
* Hot Weather Safety: Medical experts remind everyone to be extremely careful when outside in the hot and humid 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 and weather 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...
