Moderate - Slight Risk For Severe Weather From Wednesday - Thursday AM:

SPC Day 2 (Wednesday) Outlook

DAY 2 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER

NORMAN OK

1253 AM CDT TUE APR 08 2008

VALID 091200Z - 101200Z

...THERE IS A MDT RISK OF SVR TSTMS ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL TX AND SOUTHERN OK...

...THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS/ARKLATEX/OZARKS...

...MUCH OF TX/OK INTO THE ARKLATEX/OZARKS...

POTENTIAL WILL EXIST FOR WIDESPREAD SEVERE STORMS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS WEDNESDAY/WEDNESDAY NIGHT. 00Z NAM/GFS/ECMWF AND 21Z SREF GUIDANCE SUGGEST A MID/UPPER TROUGH WILL SHIFT EASTWARD OVER THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES INTO THE SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS DURING THE DAY...TAKING ON A NEUTRAL TO NEGATIVE TILT BY THE END OF THE PERIOD. AT THE SURFACE...CYCLOGENESIS WILL OCCUR ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS...WITH BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTURE /60S F DEWPOINTS/ RETURNING WEST-NORTHWESTWARD ACROSS TX. STALLING FRONTAL BOUNDARY ACROSS THE ARKLATEX AND NORTH/CENTRAL TX ON DAY 1 IS EXPECTED TO RETREAT NORTHWARD ACROSS NORTH TX DURING THE DAY...AND INTO OK DURING THE EVENING/OVERNIGHT.

THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO FOR SURFACE BASED RMS/SUPERCELLS DURING THE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING WILL BE ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST/WEST CENTRAL INTO NORTH CENTRAL TX AHEAD OF THE DEVELOPING SURFACE LOW/DRYLINE AND NEAR THE WARM FRONT INTERSECTION. AS THE UPPER TROUGH CONTINUES TO SHIFT EASTWARD...50 KT MID LEVEL SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ATOP SOUTH-SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS IN THE BOUNDARY LAYER WILL YIELD STRONG VERTICAL SHEAR FOR SUPERCELLS. AMPLE HEATING/INCREASINGLY STEEP MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES IN CONJUNCTION WITH 60S F DEWPOINTS ACROSS TX WILL LEAD TO MODERATE TO STRONG INSTABILITY BY AFTERNOON...WITH MLCAPE OF 2000-3000 J/KG. THE SUPERCELLS WILL BE CAPABLE OF VERY LARGE HAIL AND TORNADOES /A FEW POTENTIALLY STRONG/...WITH AN APPRECIABLE SEVERE RISK CONTINUING WELL INTO THE NIGHT. IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER RISKS...A DAMAGING WIND THREAT MAY INCREASE DURING THE LATE EVENING/OVERNIGHT ACROSS NORTH/CENTRAL TX IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE EASTWARD SURGING DRYLINE/PACIFIC FRONT.

FARTHER NORTH ACROSS NORTHWEST TX/WESTERN OK INTO SOUTHERN KS...A LEAD IMPULSE MAY LEAD TO SCATTERED ELEVATED THUNDERSTORMS BY LATE MORNING/AFTERNOON WITHIN THE ELEVATED BAROCLINIC ZONE. A HIGHLY SHEARED ENVIRONMENT AND SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY WOULD RESULT IN AT LEAST SOME LARGE HAIL POTENTIAL. ALTHOUGH POSSIBLY IMPACTED BY ONGOING CONVECTION ACROSS TX...THE WARM FRONT WILL CONTINUE LIFTING NORTHWARD FROM NORTH TX INTO OK DURING THE EVENING/OVERNIGHT. AT LEAST A LARGE HAIL THREAT WILL CONTINUE MUCH OF THE NIGHT ACROSS OK INTO ADJACENT PORTIONS OF KS/MO/AR. HOWEVER...A SURFACED BASED SEVERE THREAT /INCLUDING TORNADOES AND DAMAGING WINDS/ CANNOT BE RULED OUT ACROSS CENTRAL/SOUTHERN OK DURING THE NIGHT.

Isolated Storms Monday Evening

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

AFTERNOON HEATING AND THE DRY LINE MAY SPARK A THUNDERSTORM THIS EVENING ACROSS MAINLY THE NORTHERN BIG COUNTRY. ANY STORM WHICH DEVELOPS MAY RAPIDLY BECOME SEVERE. THE MAJORITY OF THE STORM ACTIVITY SHOULD STAY NORTH OF OUR AREA ALONG THE RED RIVER BUT WE'LL MONITOR LOCALLY FOR THE CHANCE FOR STORMS.SEVERE WEATHER WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE AGAIN LATE TUESDAY WITH A COLD FRONT IN THE AREA.WEDNESDAY, THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND INTO THE NIGHT, WE'LL HAVE OUR BEST CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS, SOME WHICH COULD BE SEVERE.

TONIGHT: ISOLATED EVENING STORMS, OTHERWISE PARTLY CLOUDY, LOW 63. SOUTH WIND 10 TO 20.

TUESDAY: PARTLY CLOUDY, ISOLATED LATE DAY STORM, UPPER 70'S WITH NORTHEAST WIND 10 TO 20.

TUESDAY NIGHT: MOSTLY CLOUDY, 30% CHANCE FOR STORMS, LOW 53.

WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT: A 50% CHANCE FOR STORMS.

Fire Danger For Western Big Country, Front Tomorrow, Severe Weather Mid-Week:

* From the KRBC Weather Center...

- Red Flag Warning for Scurry and Mitchell Counties This Afternoon.
- Fire Weather Watch for Nolan, Fisher, & Haskell Counties Today

* Good morning... Quiet morning across West Texas today as a front has stalled just across our southern counties. This front will retreat northward today as a warm front helping warm highs today into the middle 80s. The dryline will drift into our western counties and will elevate the fire danger this afternoon.

* Tomorrow a cold front will move across the area and will bring a slight chance for storms across the eastern areas where there will be the best moisture content. Highs tomorrow will drop back into the middle and upper 70s.

* Severe Weather Mid-Week: A strong system will swing through West Texas on Wednesday helping develop showers and thunderstorms across the area. The Storm Prediciton Center has the entire Big Country, the Northern Concho Valley, and the Heartland outlined for the Slight Risk of severe weather on Wednesday. The long range outlook from the SPC has suggestion for some severe weather Thursday... mainly early in the morning as the system moves out of our area. We will watch this system take shape and sharpen our forecast accordingly.

* Quickcast:
-Today: Partly Cloudy, Warm, Windy High: 85-87 Winds: S 15-25 mph
-Tonight: Partly Cloudy, Mild, Windy Low: 58-61 Winds: S 15-25 mph
-Tuesday: Partly Cloudy, WarmHigh: 77-79Winds: S 15/NW 15

* Have a Good Monday...

-KRBC Meteorologist Chris Whited

Dry Through Tuesday, Then Rain Mid-Week

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ...

HARD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE WEATHER WE ENJOYED THIS WEEKEND - WARM SUNSHINE AND PLENTY OF IT. WE WILL KICK OFF THE WORK AND SCHOOL WEEK WITH SIMILAR WARM AND DRY WEATHER BUT CHANGES START TO TAKE PLACE AS SOON AS TUESDAY NIGHT.

WE'RE EXPECTING A COLD FRONT TO ARRIVE TUESDAY NIGHT AND LINGER WEDNESDAY WHICH MEANS WE HAVE A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THIS TIME OF YEAR, A FEW OF THOSE COULD BE SEVERE. WE LOSE THE CHANCE FOR RAIN DURING THE DAY THURSDAY AND RETURN TO DRY WEATHER WITH NICE CONDITIONS FOR YOUR NEXT WEEKEND.

TONIGHT: MOSTLY CLEAR WITH A LOW NEAR 55.
MONDAY: MOSTLY SUNNY AND 84.
MONDAY NIGHT: MOSTLY CLEAR WITH A LOW NEAR 59
TUESDAY: PARTLY CLOUDY, HIGH OF 79.
WEDNESDAY: A 40% CHANCE FOR RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS, HIGH 65.

Tornado Watch Issued:

* From Meteorologist Chris Whited in the KRBC Weather Center...

The Storm Predicition Center has issued a Tornado Watch until 9:00 PM for
the following counties: Taylor, Callahan, Nolan, Fisher, Haskell, Shackelford,
Jones, Stephens, Throckmorton, and Eastland

* Stay with KRBC for the latest weather information from Chief Meteorologist
Randy Turner this evening and myself...

Severe Weather Threat This Afternoon & Tonight:

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
406 AM CDT THU APR 3 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHTISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OFF A DRYLINE LATE AFTERNOON...FROM IRAAN TO STERLING CITY TO SWEETWATER...MAY BECOME SEVERE AS THEY MOVE NORTHEAST INTO THE BIG COUNTRY AND CONCHO VALLEY THIS EVENING. A SECOND ROUND OF THUNDERSTORMS...WHICH MAY HAVE THE MORE INTENSE SEVERE WEATHER... IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOPAS A COLD FRONT MOVES SOUTH INTO THE BIG COUNTRY TOWARD MIDNIGHTAND THROUGH THE REST OF WEST CENTRAL TEXAS BY DAYBREAK. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE STORMS EAST OF AN ALBANY... ABILENE...SAN ANGELO... JUNCTION LINE TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS ACROSS THE REST OF WEST CENTRAL TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES WILLALL BE POSSIBLE.

...SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

Severe Weather Expected Thursday

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST ..

Consider this your "Heads Up" for the potential for severe weather late Thursday and Thursday night across the Big Country. The Storm Prediction Center has placed all the KRBC viewing area in a Slight Risk for severe storms while from Abilene northeast toward Breckenridge and Throckmorton the risk is greater, in the Moderate category. Damaging hail, high wind and isolated tornadoes will all be possible Thursday and Thursday night. Heavy rain will also fall from many of the storms. Once the storms push east Thursday night, a strong cold front blows through making for windy and cooler weather Friday. Weekend weather, however, still looks nice.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy to partly cloudy, highs middle 80's, gusty south wind with a 40% chance of late storms.

Thursday Night: Severe thunderstorms likely areawide, more prominent from Abilene east and south. Low 45.

Friday: Gusty north wind, partly cloudy, middle 60's.

Weekend: Sunny and warm, middle 70's.

Moderate Risk For Severe Weather Thursday:

* Mostly cloudy conditions will continue across West Central Texas for today with a slight chance for isolated thunderstorms. Highs will reach the middle 60s. Same story for tonight with isolated storms possible. Lows should be around 60.

* Tomorrow: The Storm Prediction Center has place most of the Big Country under a Moderate Risk For severe weather on Thursday afternoon, evening and early Friday. Here is the NWS/San Angelo Hazardous Weather Outlook:

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
550 AM CDT WED APR 2 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL TEXAS

..DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TODAY...MAINLY ACROSS THE BIGCOUNTRY AS A WARM FRONT MOVES NORTH. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME

..DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAYAFTERNOON AND NIGHT...IN THE BIG COUNTRY FROM HASKELL TO ANSON TO ABILENE...AND FOR AREAS TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF THESE CITIES. ASLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS EXTENDS ACROSS THE REST OF WEST CENRALTEXAS. AN UPPER DISTURBANCE FROM THE WEST WILL DESTABILIZE THEATMOSPHERE. A DRYLINE IN WESTERN SECTIONS OF THE CONCHO VALLEY AND BIG COUNTRY WILL BE A FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENTDURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A COLD FRONT LATE EVENING AND AFTER MIDNIGHT WILL THEN BE AN ADDITIONAL FOCUS FOR STRONG TOSEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS ARE THE MAINTHREATS. AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS ALSO POSSIBLE..SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT.

CLOUDY WEATHER TONIGHT, GRADUAL WARMING

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

OUR SPRING ROLLER COASTER RIDE CONTINUES IN TERMS OF TEMPERATURE AND IN SPEED OF WEATHER SYSTEMS RAPIDLY COMING AND GOING THROUGH THE AREA.

NEXT ON TAP IS A WARM FRONT WHICH WILL COME FROM THE SOUTH AND THROUGH THE AREA DURING THE DAY THURSDAY. SOME DRIZZLE AND FOG IS POSSIBLE TONIGHT AS THE COOL AIR NEAR THE GROUND IS OVERRUN BY THE WARMER AIR ABOUT A MILE ABOVE THE GROUND. THERE COULD BE AN ISOLATED T-STORM ON WEDNESDAY BUT CHANCES AREN'T THAT GREAT AND FAVOR MAINLY THE NORTHERN BIG COUNTRY.

WE'LL WATCH AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM APPROACH FROM THE WEST ON THURSDAY. ONCE AGAIN, AREAS NORTH OF I-20 ARE FAVORTED TO SEE SOME THUNDERSTORMS ALTHOUGH I DON'T THINK WE'LL SEE A LARGE NUMBER OF STORMS ON THURSDAY. ANY THAT DEVELOP, HOWEVER, WILL BE CAPABLE OF BECOMING SEVERE. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THURSDAY NIGHT MAY BE THE BEST CHANCE FOR STORMS AREAWIDE WITH YET ANOTHER COLD FRONT ARRIVING SHORTLY THEREAFTER. WEATHER FOR THE UPCOMING WEEKEND LOOKS WARM AND DRY.

TONIGHT: TURNING CLOUDY, MIDDLE 40'S, DRIZZLE AND FOG POSSIBLE.
WEDNESDAY: A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR ISOLATED STORMS, HIGH NEAR 65 AS SOUTH WINDS GRADUALLY RETURN.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: BECOMING HUMID, LOW NEAR 60.
THURSDAY: A 20% CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS, HIGH 84.
FRIDAY: MOSTLY SUNNY AND 68.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY: SUN AND CLOUDS WITH 78-83 FOR HIGHS.

Cooler Tuesday, Chance of Storms Wednesday

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

THE THUNDERSTORMS DIDN'T PAN OUT MONDAY ACROSS THE BIG COUNTRY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BROWN AND COMANCHE COUNTIES. THE DRY LINE PUSHED THROUGH AS FORECAST, PRETTY MUCH AT MID-DAY AS FORECAST, BUT THE GREATER INSTABILITY EAST OF ABILENE KEPT THE SEVERE WEATHER AWAY.

TUESDAY MORNING COOL NORTH WIND WILL BE BLOWING AND TEMPERATURES TUESDAY SHOULD BE ABOUT 20 DEGREES COOLER THAN MONDAY.

BY TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY, AS A WARM FRONT MOVES NORTH ACROSS OUR AREA, A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE, ABOUT A 20% CHANCE. SOME STORMS WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT COULD BE SEVERE SO STAY TUNED TO KRBC AND WATCH THIS BLOG FOR MORE INFORMATION.

TUESDAY: PARTLY CLOUDY AND 68 WITH GUSTY NORTH WIND.
TUESDAY NIGHT: SLIGHT CHANCE FOR STORMS, 50.
WEDNESDAY: 20% CHANCE FOR STORMS, NEAR 68.
THURSDAY: WARMER, NEAR 82.

Isolated Storms Today, Fire Threat Afternoon

Good Morning from Meteorologist Chris Whited...

* Watching the radar early this morning for thunderstorms but so far as of the time I am writing this just after 5:00, things are quiet. Dryline sits well back to our west with dewpoints this morning in the 50s and 60s across the area and temperatures in the lower 70s.

* Today: The dryline will advance eastward as we go through the day and will fire off a few thunderstorms in areas. The best chance for storms will be across the eastern areas of West Central Texas...roughly along and east of US 283. There is a slight risk of severe storms across the eastern parts of the KRBC viewing area as we go into the day. Isolated storms across the Big Country could be severe today as well. As the dryline moves though the area, the fire danger will begin to elevate across the area. Red Flag Warnings are in place over the Permian Basin this morning. It will be warm today with highs in the lower and middle 80s. Rain Chances: 20% for most of the area with 30-40% chances east of US 283. Winds will be southwesterly at 15-25 mph.

* Tonight: Mostly clear and cooler across the area with lows in the middle 40s and winds easing back some to 5-15 from the southwest.

* Tuesday: A cold front will move across West Central Texas and allow for a cooler day with highs in the lowe to middle 70s and winds switching to the north at 10-20 mph.

* Have a good Monday...

Expecting Storms Monday Morning

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER...

IT'S A FAMILIAR SCENARIO - DRYLINE WITH SOME UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT MOVES EAST, DRYLINE CAUSES T-STORMS TO DEVELOP, DRYLINE MOVES EAST, ENDING THE CHANCE FOR RAIN, COLD FRONT ARRIVES EARLY TUESDAY.

THE DIFFERENCE IN MONDAY'S SETUP IS THE DRYLINE IS EXPECTED TO CAUSE STORMS STARTING EARLY IN THE MORNING, SAY SUNRISE THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON AS IT SLOWLY PUSHES EAST ACROSS THE AREA. SO RATHER THAN THE TYPICAL AFTERNOON STORMS, EXPECT THEM FROM EARLY MORNING THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON. ONE OR TWO MAY BECOME SEVERE.

HIGHS MONDAY AROUND 80, RAIN CHANCE 40%, SSW WIND 15 TO 20.

LOWS MONDAY NIGHT NEAR 50, PARTLY CLOUDY.

HIGHS TUESDAY NEAR 64 WITH GUSTY NORTH WIND ALL DAY.

LOWS TUESDAY NIGHT NEAR 49.

HIGHS WEDNESDAY NEAR 70 WITH A SLIGHT CHNACE FOR SHOWERS WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

WARM THURSDAY, LOW TO MID 80'S.

MID TO UPPER 70'S AND DRY FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY OF THE COMING WEEKEND.

Cooler Today... Rain Chances This Weekend:

Good Morning From Meteorologist Chris Whited at KRBC...

* Much cooler this morning as a cold front has swept through our area this morning. Highs today will only be in the upper 50s to near 60...compare that to yesterday when we had upper 80s to near 90.

* The cold air won't stick around too long, as the cold front will retreat northward on Saturday as a warm front and will return warmer and moist air. Showers and thunderstorms will be possible tomorrow as the front lifts through the area... the southern areas of the Big Country and Heartland could see some isolated storms late tonight.

* Isolated chances for thunderstorms will be possible on Sunday but the best chance of storms will be on Monday with a dryline pushing through followed by a cold front. There could be some severe weather with that system so we will need to watch it the next few days.

* Down the road... Cooler on Tuesday and warming up by the middle of next week. Computer forecast runs this morning are introducing some rain chances for Wednesday and Thursday so for now, will only introduce a 20% chance for the area.

* Have a great weekend...

A Few Weekend Storms Possible - Better Chance Monday

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

TWO COLD FRONT BETWEEN NOW AND MONDAY BRING RAIN BACK INTO OUR FORECAST AND TEMPERATURES ARE ABOUT TO MODERATE, COMPARED TO THE VERY WARM WEATHER WE'VE HAD THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

THE FIRST COLD FRONT WILL ARRIVE LATER TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW MORNING. IT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE TEMPERATURE. INSTEAD OF HIGHS IN THE MID 80'S, I'M FORECAST HIGHS IN THE LOW 60'S ON FRIDAY. COUPLE THAT WITH A NORTH WIND AND YOU WILL HAVE A CHILLY FEELING DAY TOMORROW.

I'LL INCLUDE SHOWERS WITH AN ISOLATED STORM OR TWO IN THE SATURDAY FORECAST AS THE COLD FRONT LIFTS BACK NORTH ACROSS THE AREA AS A WARM FRONT.

YOU'LL NOTICE VERY HUMID AIR ARRIVING SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT AS GULF MOISTURE SURGES IN PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF OUR NEXT FRONT ON MONDAY.

SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY APPEAR TO BE OUR BEST CHANCE FOR RAIN AND SOME OF THE STORMS ON MONDAY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE SEVERE SO STAY ALERT SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY.

TONIGHT: COLD FRONT EASES INTO THE AREA, UPPER 40'S.
FRIDAY: MAINLY CLOUDY AND CHILLY, HIGHS NEAR 60.
FRIDAY NIGHT: MOSTLY CLOUDY, UPPER 40'S.
SATURDAY: MOSTLY CLOUDY, 30% CHANCE FOR RAIN, LOW 70'S.
SUNDAY: MOSTLY CLOUDY, 20% CHNACE FOR RAIN, UPPER 70'S.

Changes Ahead...

Good Morning From KRBC Meteorologist Chris Whited...

* Expect a very warm day today with temperatures not too far from the records. The record for Abilene today is 92 from 1971... I am forecasting a high of around 90 for the Abilene area and lower 90s for the Heartland and Western Big Country. A dryline will move across the area today dropping relative humidity and dewpoint values, which in turn will help raise the temperatures.

* A cold front will move in late tonight and early Friday and will bring a drastic cool down with highs back into the middle to upper 60s for Friday and cooler overnight. The front will retreat back northward on Saturday as a warm front so highs will climb back to the middle 70s.

* Rain chances: A slight chance of rain over the weekend as moisture will surge in with the warm front and with daytime heating. Another front will move in by Monday and will bring a better chance of rain and storms for the area.

* Have a good Thursday...

Very Warm Thursday / Cooler Friday

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ...

WARM WEATHER IS THE BIG STORY ONCE AGAIN ON THURSDAY AS TEMPERATURES APPROACH OR EVEN EXCEED 90.

CHANGES COMING FRIDAY WITH A COLD FRONT ARRIVING DURING THE EARLY PART OF FRIDAY, HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60'S INSTEAD OF NEAR 90. IT IS DOUBTFUL THE FRONT WILL CAUSE ANY RAIN FRIDAY BUT PERHAPS SOME ISOLATED STORMS TRY AND BUILD ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

IT STILL LOOKS LIKE THE BEST CHANCE FOR RAIN HOLDS OFF UNTIL SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY WHEN YET ANOTHER COLD FRONT ARRIVES.. WE'LL HAVE A 40% CHANCE FOR RAIN ON MONDAY.

TONIGHT: PARTLY CLOUDY, 59.
THURSDAY: PARTLY CLOUDY TO MOSTLY SUNNY, NEAR 90, BREEZY SOUTHWEST WIND 15 TO 20.
FRIDAY: PARTLY CLOUDY, UPPER 60'S.
WEEKEND: HIGHS IN THE 70'S, SLIGHT CHANCE FOR RAIN.

Have the A/C Ready !

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

HELLO, THANKS FOR STOPPING BY OUR BLOG. THE HEADLINE SAYS IT ALL - WARM WEATHER IS HERE TO STAY THROUGH THURSDAY BEFORE SLIGHTLY COOLER AIR ARRIVES FOR FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND.


WE ENJOYED WARM TEMPERATURES THIS AFTERNOON BUT FEW OF US PROBABLY ENJOYED THE GUSTY WIND. NOT QUITE AS MUCH WIND TOMORROW, ALTHOUGH IT WILL BE BREEZY, AND WARMER TEMPERATURES TOO.

I HAVEN'T MADE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE FORECAST - HOLDING STEADY WITH MID 80'S ON WEDNESDAY AND UPPER 80'S ON THURSDAY. WE'LL DROP BACK TO BETWEEN 70 AND 75 THIS WEEKEND. THE NEXT CHANCE FOR RAIN IS NOW IN THE FORECAST FOR SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY IN ASSOCIATION WITH A COLD FRONT WHICH LOOKS DESTINED FOR OUR AREA DURING THE DAY MONDAY.

WHAT YOU WILL NOTICE OVER THE NEXT FEW MORNINGS IS THE ABUNDANCE OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE - WE'LL LIKELY SEE THOSE LOW CLOUDS COMING UP FROM THE SOUTH TO BEGIN OUR DAY - AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY THE CASE THIS WEEKEND.

THE ADDITIONAL MOISTURE AT NIGHT AND OCCASIONAL GUSTY WIND WILL COMBINE TO KEEP OUR OVERNIGHT LOWS ON THE MILD SIDE.

ENJOY THE WARMTH!!

Let the Warm Begin

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

GOOD EVENING - HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE WARMER TEMPERATURES TODAY AND HOPE YOU ARE READY FOR REALLY WARM WEATHER AS WE GO THROUGH THE WEEK. NO MAJOR WEATHER SYSTEMS ARE COMING OUR WAY THROUGH MID-WEEK. TEMPERATURES WILL APPROACH 80 TUESDAY, CLOSER TO 85 WEDNESDAY AND UPPER 80'S THURSDAY. I'LL LEAVE JUST THE ISOLATED HIT AND MISS STORM IN THURSDAY'S FORECAST, DUE TO THE DRY LINE, BUT COUNTIES MAINLY EAST AND SOUTH OF ABILENE WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THAT, IF ANY AT ALL. I'LL JUST MENTION A POSSIBILITY OF SHOWERS FOR SUNDAY INTO MONDAY BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO WATCH TO SEE IF IT ACTUALLY DEVELOPS.

TONIGHT - CLEAR WITH UPPER 40'S.
TUESDAY - SUNNY, NEAR 80 WITH GUSTY SOUTH WIND.
TUESDAY NIGHT - PARTLY CLOUDY, 55 TO 58.
WEDNESDAY - BREEZY, WARM, 85.
THURSDAY - PARTLY CLOUDY, WARM, 88.

Warming Trend Ahead...

Good Monday Morning From KRBC Meteorologist Chris Whited...

* After a cold start this morning with areas of frost a quiet Monday across West Central Texcas. Not much is happening in the forecast this week other than a gradual warming trend this week. Daytime highs will climb into the middle and upper 80s by the middle of the week, well above our normal highs in the 70s. Winds will pick up over the next few days and I do expect the fire danger to elevate some across West Texas.

* We don't any rainfall this week as it looks to be rather dry. Moisture will return my mid-week and a sharp dryline takes shape over West Texas but it doesn't look too promising for any rainfall. A cold front will move across the Big Country, the Heartland, and the Northern Concho Valley by Friday cooling our daytime highs back into the middle 70s. There may be enough lift to squeeze out a shower with the front, but for now I am not including a rain chance in the forecast.

* Enjoy your Monday...

The Week Ahead

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ...

TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO FLIRT WITH FREEZING MONDAY MORNING AS WE BEGIN OUR WORK WEEK. FROST IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE WITH LOWS 32-35 AREAWIDE.

AFTER A COLD START TO THE WEEK, TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO WARM UP NICELY TO SOME OF THE WARMEST WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR THIS YOUNG SPRING SEASON. LOOK FOR HIGHS TO BE 80 OR ABOVE TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. RAIN CHANCES APPEAR PRETTY SLIM THIS WEEK, HOWEVER THE DRY LINE MAY BE ABLE TO PRODUCE AN ISOLATED STORM OR TWO THURSDAY.

THE NEXT COLD FRONT WILL ARRIVE LATE FRIDAY OR FRIDAY NIGHT CAUSING A BIG DIP IN TEMPERATURES BACK INTO THE LOW 60'S FOR HIGHS ON SATURDAY. ALL IN ALL, PRETTY QUIET WEATHER THIS WEEK.

Dry End To Week, Wet Easter Sunday...

Good Morning on this Good Friday to everyone in the Big Country, the Heartland, and the Northern Concho Valley from KRBC Meteorologist Chris Whited...

* A weak cold front will move across the area today, not doing much other than shifting our winds from the south back to the north. A few clouds will be possible today with highs in the lower 70s and approaching the middle 70s ahead of the front. Saturday will be quiet ahead of the next system and front that will move in overnight Saturday and into Sunday.

* Easter: The front and low pressure will move in early and could produce rain early enough to make some sunrise services wet. We will see our high temperature overnight, with temperatures holding in the 40s most of the day with rain showers. Easter egg hunts in the afternoon will most likely be wet.

* Next week looks to be dry and cool to start off on Monday with a gradual warming trend by the middle of the week with highs again near 80 degrees.

* Have a safe weekend and Easter...

Cold and Wet on Easter

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

AS IT SHAPES UP RIGHT NOW, WE SHOULD PLAN ON A CHILLY AND WET EASTER SUNDAY, THANKS TO A COLD FRONT WHICH ARRIVES ON SATURDAY NIGHT. SHOWERS AND A FEW STORMS SHOULD FORM ACROSS OUR NORTHERN BIG COUNTRY COUNTIES ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND SPREAD SOUTHWARD WITH THE FRONT. TEMPERATURES ON EASTER SUNDAY WILL STRUGGLE TO GET TO 50. IT ISN'T OUT OF THE QUESTION THAT NORTHERN COUNTIES MAY SEE SOME FROZEN PRECIPITATION MIX IN WITH THE RAIN BUT TOO EARLY TO SAY WITH ANY CONFIDENCE AT THIS TIME.

WEATHER LEADING UP TO EASTER WILL BE PLEASANT, A LITTLE ABOVE 70 ON FRIDAY, CLOSE TO 70 SATURDAY BUT ONLY ABOUT 50 ON SUNDAY. THE WARM AND DRY WEATHER RESUMES ON MONDAY AS HIGHS REBOUND INTO THE 60'S FOLLOWED BY WARM 70'S ON TUESDAY.

Welcome To Spring:

Good morning from KRBC Meteorologist Chris Whited...

* Today is the first day of spring here in Texas as the vernal equinox came at 12:48 AM CDT early this morning.

* A quiet weather continues through at least Saturday as high pressure continues to dominating our area. The warm continues with highs in the middle and upper 70s for the end of the week as we enter the Easter Weekend. Clouds will be on the increase on Saturday ahead of the next cold front and system that will bring rain chances back on late Saturday, and most of the day on Easter Sunday. This mornings data runs still suggest the bulk of the rain will be on Sunday itself, so sunrise services on Sunday could be wet. Easter will aslo be a cool day with highs only be in the upper 50s and wet for those Easter egg hunts. The first few days of next week look mostly sunny to partly cloudy temperatures gradually increasing back to the 70s by mid-week.

* Today: Sunny, warmer and windy with a highs in the upper 70s. South winds of 15-25 mph

* Tonight: Clear and not as cool. Lows in the middle 40s. South winds 10-20 mph

* Good Friday: Sunny and warm. Highs in the middle 70s. Winds becoming northeasterly at 5-10 mph.

* Enjoy your Thursday...

Last Day of Winter:

Good Wednesday from KRBC Meteorologist Chris Whited...

* Today is the last day of winter here in the Northern Hemisphere as we will begin the vernal equinox at 12:48 AM CDT Thursday morning.

* On a side note, what a well needed rain across the Big Country, Heartland and the Northern Concho Valley on Monday night and Tuesday. In all, most areas saw an average of 2 to 3 inches while a few isolated spots approaches 4 inches. Checking on the climate numbers this morning as I am putting together my forecast package for West Texas Today show we are now +1.98 inches above normal based on numbers at Abilene Regional Airport. While we sit in the short term above normal, the US Drought monitor update on March 11th still has our area placed under a Drought Stage 2 - Severe (Agricultural) drought.

* A quiet weather pattern for the next few days as high pressure will be the dominating weather feature for our area. A warm up is in store with highs back in the upper 60s today and middle and upper 70s for the end of the week as we enter the Easter Weekend. Good Friday will be our warmest day with highs approaching 80. Clouds will be on the increase on Saturday ahead of the next cold front and system that will bring rain chances back on late Saturday, and most of the day on Easter Sunday. This mornings data runs suggest for now it looks the bulk of the rain will be on Sunday itself, but sunrise services on Sunday could be wet. As anticipated as we always see at or around Easter, our "Easter Snap" of cooler weather will arrive with the rain on Sunday so daytime highs will only be in the upper 50s and wet for the Easter egg hunts. The first few days of next week look mostly sunny to partly cloudy temperatures gradually increasing back to the 70s by mid-week.

* Looking at the models out days 7-14 we see a couple of rain chances and mostly dry and warm weather. I will stress that this far out on model runs is "voodoo land" and expect the outlook for the second week to change between now and them. This far out on these forecast models is just a "guess."

* That's it for this morning/evening. Randy Turner is away tonight so I will be back in the saddle tonight on KRBC News at 5, 6, and 10:00. Unless there is a change in forecast data, I will let this blog cover the evening shift as well. Enjoy your Wednesday and the last day of winter!

Rain Ends Tonight

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ...

AFTER SEVERE WEATHER AND WELCOMED RAINS LAST NIGHT AND TODAY, THE STORM SYSTEM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STORMS WILL MOVE EAST OF OUR AREA TONIGHT, BRINGING AN END TO THE RAIN.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS RANGE FROM 1.65 IN SANTA ANNA TO 3.66 IN BRECKENRIDGE. BAIRD REPORTS 2.75 WHILE COLEMAN ALSO HAD 2.75.

ONCE THE SYSTEM MOVES EAST TONIGHT, CLOUDS WILL GRADUALLY DECREASE FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE AREA. WE SHOULD SEE ABUNDANT SUNSHINE ON WEDNESDAY AND SUNNY SKIES THROUGH SATURDAY.

THE NEXT CHANCE FOR RAIN IS A SLIGHT CHANCE ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND EASTER SUNDAY, THANKS TO ANOTHER COLD FRONT MOVING INTO THE AREA.

TEMPERATURES TONIGHT NEAR 39 IN ABILENE. HIGHS TOMORROW MID 60'S FOLLOWED BY LOW 70'S THURDAY AND MID 70'S ON FRIDAY.

SEVERE T-STORM WATCH IN EFFECT

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

Severe Thunderstorm WatchSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WS 124
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
130 PM CDT MON MAR 17 2008
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 124 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
ARCHER BAYLOR BROWN
CALLAHAN CLAY COKE
COLEMAN COMANCHE CONCHO
EASTLAND ERATH FISHER
FOARD HARDEMAN HASKELL
IRION JACK JONES
KNOX MCCULLOCH MILLS
MONTAGUE NOLAN PALO PINTO
RUNNELS SAN SABA SHACKELFORD
STEPHENS TAYLOR THROCKMORTON
TOM GREEN WICHITA WILBARGER
YOUNG

Heads Up for Severe Weather

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ...

MY BEST ADVICE IS STAY ALERT TO RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT. THE BIG COUNTRY IS PRIMED FOR A ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER .. PLENTY OF MOIST AIR - APPROACHING DRY LINE - UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NUMEROUS THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT AND INTO TUESDAY. SEVERAL WILL LIKELY BECOME SEVERE. LARGE HAIL, HIGH WINDS AND TORNADOES ARE EXPECTED.

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS UPGRADED OUR AREA TO A MODERATE RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION IN PLACE, SOMEWHERE SAFE TO GO IF / WHEN WARNINGS ARE ISSUED. MAKE SURE YOUR WEATHER RADIOS ARE OPERATIONAL.

STAY TUNED TO KRBC FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

TUESDAY SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE A RAINY DAY WITH COOL TEMPERATURES IN THE 50'S. THE WORST OF THE SEVERE WEATHER SHOULD MOVE EAST SOMETIME TONIGHT BUT LINGERING RAIN IS EXPECTED TUESDAY.

RAINFALL MAY BE HEAVY IN PARTS OF THE AREA, SEVERAL INCHES POSSIBLE ESPECIALY EAST AND SOUTH OF ABILENE.

Plan for a Stormy Monday & Tuesday

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

WE ARE IN FOR A WET PERIOD OF WEATHER FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY HERE IN THE BIG COUNTRY. THE GOOD NEWS IS RAIN IS LIKELY, THE BAD NEWS IS WE MAY HAVE TO CONTEND WITH SEVERE WEATHER, HAIL AND HIGH WINDS, TO GET THE GOOD RAIN. A COMPLEX PATTERN IS SETTING UP. HERE ARE THE INGREDIENTS...

1. UPPER LEVEL LOW OUT IN ARIZONA TONIGHT WILL DRIFT SOUTH INTO NORTHERN MEXICO BY TOMORROW - CAUSING A FEW STORMS LATE TONIGHT OR EARLY MONDAY MORNING IN OUR AREA.
2. A DRY LINE WILL DEVELOP WEST OF OUR AREA TONIGHT AND MOVE EAST TOMORROW, CAUSING STORMS.
3. A COLD FRONT ATTACHED TO THE MAIN STORM SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY BRINGING MORE RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS.
4. BY TUESDAY NIGHT - THE RAIN IS EAST AND WE WILL HAVE HOPEFULLY RECEIVED APPRECIABLE RAINFALL TOTALS, AT LEAST 1 TO 2 INCHES IN MANY AREAS.

BUT IT ISN'T JUST RAIN - MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT, BE PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS - HAIL, HIGH WINDS, ISOLATED TORNADOES. THE BEST CHANCE FOR RAIN AND STORMS LOOKS TO BE MONDAY NIGHT.

TEMPERATURES - MILD TONIGHT AS MOISTURE SURGES INTO THE AREA, AROUND 60. HIGH MONDAY NEAR 73. AROUND 50 MONDAY NIGHT AND NEAR 60 AS COOLER AIR ARRIVES TUESDAY. 70'S MIDWEEK, NEAR 80 BY THE END OF THE WEEK.

DRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

Severe Weather Possible:

* From our friends at the NWS/San Angelo:

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
120 PM CDT SUN MAR 16 2008

TXZ049-054-064>066-071>073-076>078-098-099-113-114-127-128-139-
140-154-155-168>170-171000-
FISHER-NOLAN-STERLING-COKE-RUNNELS-IRION-TOM GREEN-CONCHO-
CROCKETT-SCHLEICHER-SUTTON-HASKELL-THROCKMORTON-JONES-SHACKELFORD-
TAYLOR-CALLAHAN-COLEMAN-BROWN-MCCULLOCH-SAN SABA-MENARD-KIMBLE-
MASON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ROTAN...ROBY...SWEETWATER...
STERLING CITY...ROBERT LEE...BRONTE...BALLINGER...WINTERS...
MERTZON...SAN ANGELO...EDEN...OZONA...ELDORADO...SONORA...
HASKELL...THROCKMORTON...WOODSON...STAMFORD...ANSON...HAMLIN...
ALBANY...ABILENE...CLYDE...BAIRD...CROSS PLAINS...COLEMAN...
BROWNWOOD...BRADY...SAN SABA...MENARD...JUNCTION...MASON
120 PM CDT SUN MAR 16 2008

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...

A STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM OVER THE BAJA REGION WILL MOVE
EAST ACROSS NORTHERN MEXICO...AND INTO TEXAS MONDAY NIGHT. GULF
MOISTURE WILL RETURN NORTH ACROSS WEST CENTRAL TEXAS TONIGHT AND
MONDAY...AHEAD OF A DEVELOPING DRYLINE. AN ISOLATED SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM OR TWO WILL BE POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT ACROSS MAINLY
THE BIG COUNTRY. BY MONDAY AFTERNOON...A WARM...MOIST AND UNSTABLE
AIRMASS WILL BE IN PLACE ACROSS MUCH OF WEST CENTRAL TEXAS.
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AS THE DRYLINE MOVES EAST
ACROSS WEST CENTRAL TEXAS MONDAY AFTERNOON AND MONDAY NIGHT. SOME
THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE SEVERE...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS. ALSO...ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS
MAINLY THE HEARTLAND AND NORTHWEST HILL COUNTRY. AS THE MAIN UPPER
LEVEL STORM SYSTEM MOVES OUT MONDAY NIGHT...THUNDERSTORMS WILL
BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE.

LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA FOR THE LATER
UPDATES ON THIS DEVELOPING SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION.

Extremely Critical & Dangerous Fire Weather Day:

Good Morning From KRBC Meteorologist Chris Whited...

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
218 AM CDT FRI MAR 14 2008

...CRITICAL FIRE CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS WESTCENTRAL TEXAS TODAY...

CRITICAL TO POTENTIALLY EXTREMELY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHERCONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO SET UP LATER TODAY. A STRONG AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OVER THE TX PANHANDLE WILL PRODUCE STRONG WESTERLY WINDS BEHIND A SURGING DRY LINE. THIS WILL COMBINE WITH VERY DRY RELATIVE HUMIDITIES BELOW 15 PERCENT AS TEMPS SOAR INTO THE UPPER 80S TO LOW 90S. FOR THIS REASON...OUTDOOR BURNING OF ANY KIND IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. DO NOT THROW CIGARETTE BUTTS OUT OF YOUR CAR WINDOWS

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

STRONG WESTERLY WINDS...AT 20 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL...WILLDEVELOP IN THE RANGE OF 20 TO 30 MPH BY THIS AFTERNOON. EXPECT AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES TO FALL INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS TO LOWER TEENS...AS TEMPERATURES SOAR INTO THE UPPER 80S TO LOW 90S. CRITICAL TO POTENTIALLY EXTREMELY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL RESULT.

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH.
------------------------
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
340 AM CDT FRI MAR 14 2008

...WIND ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON FOR MUCH OF WESTCENTRAL TEXAS...

A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM INTENSIFYING IN THE TEXAS PANDANDLE WILL BRING STRONG GUSTY WEST WINDS TO WEST CENTRAL TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN ANGELO HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING.

WEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WILL GUSTY TO 45 MPH THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE BIG COUNTRY...CONCHO VALLEY AND NORTHERN EDWARDS PLATEAU. THIS AREA IS MAINLY ALONG AND WEST OF AANSON...ABILENE...BALLINGER...SAN ANGELO...SONORA LINE.

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT WINDS OF 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.
--------------------------
A very dangerous weather day across our area as we have prime factors in place for a critical threat for wildfires and grassfires across the Big Counrty, the Northern Concho Valley and the Heartland. The Texas Forest Service officials are alerting residents that this is "the most extreme wildfire conditions this state has seen in recent history." The conditions will be in place throughout the day across the area. A dryline will advance into the area early today and late tonight and early Saturday we will see a cold front drop into the area. It is between the dryline and cold front that the worst conditions are in place for the fire threat. A low pressure area tracking to our north over the Panhandle, South Plains and Texoma regions is strengthening and the pressure gradient is helping pick up the winds today.

Today's Forecast: Sunny and very warm. Very high winds out of the southwest and west of 25-40 miles per hour. There could be wind gusts to 50 miles per hour. Highs: 89-91

Tonight: Mostly clear and still windy. Lows around 50 with west winds at 15-20 miles per hour.

Weekend: Sunny and cooler. Highs in the lower to middle 70s and lows in the lower to middle 50s.

Stay with KRBC throughout the day on any breaking news related to the critical fire threat and of course with the KRBC weather team.

Have a great weekend and stay safe...

The Answer, My Friend, is Blowing in the Wind

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

SORRY, COULDN'T RESIST THE HEADLINE ALLUDING TO THE WIND, A VERY SERIOUS WIND SITUATION WHICH IS SHAPING UP ON FRIDAY.

THE WIND WILL BE RELENTLESS FRIDAY, STRAIGHT OUT OF THE WEST, THE AIR VERY DRY AND TEMPERATURES VERY WARM - WHICH IS WHY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND THE TEXAS FORESTRY SERVICE ARE URGING EVERYONE TO USE EXTREME CAUTION FRIDAY WHEN IT COMES TO FIRES. NO OUTDOOR BURNING IN ANY WAY WOULD BE IDEAL .. IF YOU SMOKE, KEEP THOSE CIGARETTE BUTTS IN THE CAR, DON'T THUMP THEM OUTSIDE.

A LOW PRESSURE AREA NORTH OF US, IN OKLAHOMA AND ALONG THE RED RIVER, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WIND AND AS THAT SYSTEM MOVES EAST TOMORROW, IT WILL BE REPLACED BY SLIGHTLY COOLER, BUT NOT COLD AIR, ON SATURDAY. IT STILL LOOKS LIKE WE WILL SEE SOME THUNDERSTORMS IN THE KRBC VIEWING AREA SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE EARLIEST, MORE LIKELY DURING THE DAY MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT. A FEW OF THOSE COULD BE SEVERE. PAST THAT, MILD AND DRY WEATHER FOR THE MIDDLE PART OF NEXT WEEK.

TONIGHT: CLEAR AND 50 WITH SOUTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15.
FRIDAY: VERY WINDY, WARM, HIGH OF 88. WEST WIND 30 TO 40, MAY BE SOME BLOWING DUST DURING THE AFTERNOON. CRITICAL FIRE DANGER ON FRIDAY.
FRIDAY NIGHT: CLEAR AND 45.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY: SUNSHINE WITH HIGHS NEAR 70.
MONDAY: 30% CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS.

WILDFIRE WEATHER ALERT FRIDAY

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ...


WARM AND WINDY - THOSE ARE THE MAIN WEATHER WORDS FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. TEMPERATURES IN THE 80'S CAN BE EXPECTED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. FRIDAY IS A CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER DAY ALL ACROSS THE KRBC VIEWING AREA. THE WIND WILL BE VERY GUSTY, TEMPERATURES VERY WARM AND HUMIDITY VERY LOW LEADING TO A GREATER LIKLIHOOD OF WILDFIRES. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR OUR NEXT CHANCE FOR RAIN WHICH COMES SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. WE'LL PROBABLY SEE SOME SEVERE WEATHER SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY SO KEEP THAT IN MIND AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IF CONDITIONS COME TOGETHER AS WE THINK THEY WILL.
TONIGHT: PARTLY CLOUDY AND 51.
THURSDAY: PARTLY CLOUDY AND WINDY, HIGH 83.
FRIDAY: CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER DANGER - VERY WINDY, VERY WARM - 88
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY: A LITTLE COOLER, HIGHS NEAR 70.
SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY: OUR NEXT CHANCE FOR RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS.

Even Warmer & Increased Fire Danger:

Good Morning from KRBC Meteorologist Chris Whited...

Quiet weather continues across our area as a center if high pressure will settle over West Central Texas the next few days. A low pressure area developing to our north will help increase the pressure gradient and thus pick up winds across the area the next few days. Highs will be very warm in the lower 80s today and tomorrow and approaching close to 90 by Friday.

With the warm, dry and windy conditions our fire weather threat will be at critical levels the next few days. Friday looks to be the most serious day for fires in our area. The National Weather Service in San Angelo has already put out a Fire Weather Watch for all of our area on Friday. It is a good possibility it will be elevated to Red Flag Warning status by then as conditions will be met.

A weak front will push into the Big Country on Saturday and will cool our daytime highs closer to the normal with temperatures near 70 (the normal high is about 68). Our next storm will take shape over the later half of the weekend and will bring some rain chances back on Monday and Tuesday. The exact amount of rainfall is still in question as forecasted model data is developing different senarios with this system. Lets just hope for a nice rain as we definately need it here in our area.

Enjoy your Wednesday!

YOU'RE GETTING WARMER !!

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ...

THE WEATHER IS GOING TO BE WARM OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS ACROSS THE KRBC VIEWING AREA. WE SHOULD CLIMB INTO THE UPPER 70'S, IF NOT A FEW LOW 80'S ON WEDNESDAY, FOLLOWED BY THE MID 80'S ON THURSDAY AND THE UPPER 80'S ON FRIDAY. ALONG WITH THE WARM WEATHER COMES AN INCREASED FIRE DANGER ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AS OUR DRY SOUTHWEST WIND INCREASES. A COLD FRONT ON FRIDAY NIGHT WILL LOWER TEMPERATURES BACK TO THE UPPER 60'S FOR THE WEEKEND. AS FOR RAIN - THIS AFTERNOON SOME LIGHT SHOWERS FORMED IN A SMALL DISTURBANCE DOWN BY SAN ANGELO BUT THEY ARE WEAK AND SHORT LIVED - BUT A SLIGHT CHANCE IN THE FORECAST FOR THIS COMING SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY WITH MONDAY BEING AROUND A 30% CHANCE. WARM AND WINDY IS THE WEATHER STORY FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.

Fire Threat Increases

DESPITE RECENT RAINS THE FIRE DANGER WILL BE ELEVATED WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.ON WEDNESDAY A STRONG SURFACE TROUGH IN THE PANHANDLE WILL BRING BREEZY SOUTHWEST WINDS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE BIG COUNTRY AND CONCHO VALLEY. A PACIFIC FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSSTHE REGION ON THURSDAY BRINGING BREEZY WEST WIND SATURSDAY 10 TO 15 MPH . THE FIRE DANGER IS EXPECTED TO BE CRITICALON FRIDAY AS CONDITIONS REACH RED FLAG CRITERIA...WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITIES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS TO TEENS...ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S AND BREEZY SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH ARE EXPECTED.

Dense Fog Possible Tonight / Tuesday AM

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ...

LOW LEVEL MOISTURE SHOULD MAKE A RETURN TO THE AREA TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-20. WITH CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS, EXPECT FOG TO DEVELOP IN AREAS THAT RECEIVED RAIN SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING. THE FOG MAY BE PRETTY THICK AT TIMES SO PLAN ACCORDINGLY AND DRIVE SAFELY.

Warm Weather This Week

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ...

IT WAS NICE TO GET THE RAIN SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING, ALTHOUGH WE HAD TO PUT UP WITH SOME HAIL AND HIGH WIND IN THE PROCESS. THE AFTERNOON TURNED OUT TO BE VERY NICE.

ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL COME OUR WAY TUESDAY FROM THE NORTHWEST BUT MOISTURE FOR THE SYSTEM IS LIMITED SO I'M NOT EXPECTING RAIN, HOWEVER, YOU MAY SEE VIRGA OR SOME RAIN FALLING FROM THE CLOUDS, THEN EVAPORATING BEFORE IT REACHES THE GROUND.

TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO BE WARM THIS WEEK - NEAR 70 ON TUESDAY, NEAR 78 ON WEDNESDAY, AROUND 80 THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. THE NEXT CHANCE FOR RAIN IS GOING TO BE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY, MUCH LIKE THIS PAST WEEKEND.

WIND WILL LIKELY INCREASE FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SO THE FIRE DANGER WILL LIKELY INCREASE TOO.

Storms Sunday Night / Monday Morning

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

THERE IS RAIN IN THE FORECAST TONIGHT, THUNDERSTORMS LOOK LIKELY TONIGHT AND SOME COULD BE SEVERE. WE ARE MONITORING FOR THE SEVERE THREAT OF HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS FROM SOME OF THE STORMS, ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN BIG COUNTRY, ABILENE INCLUDED. AS YOU COULD SEE BY THE LOW LEVEL CLOUDS WE HAD AROUND THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING, MOISTURE HAS RETURNED TO THE AREA WHICH IS ONE OF THE INGREDIENTS WE NEED FOR STORMS. IN ADDITION, A LOW PRESSURE AREA IN NEW MEXICO WILL HELP WITH LIFTING SOME OF THE MOISTURE TO ALLOW STORMS TO DEVELOP. WE'LL BE MONITORING THIS STORM THREAT THROUGH THE EVENING AND NIGHT HERE AT KRBC. ONCE THE RAIN IS OVER TOMORROW, THE REST OF THE WEEK IS DRY BUT WE MAY BE TALKING ABOUT RAIN AGAIN NEXT WEEKEND, WE'LL MONITOR THAT CHANCE FOR YOU HERE AT KRBC. TWO COLD FRONTS THIS WEEK, ONE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND ANOTHER ON FRIDAY NIGHT BUT NEITHER WILL PROVIDE A MAJOR COOL SPELL.
TONIGHT - RAIN AND T-STORMS, LOW OF 46.
TOMORROW - MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH RAIN MAINLY IN THE MORNING, THEN PARTLY CLOUDY, HIGH ONLY AROUND 60.
MONDAY NIGHT: PARTLY CLOUDY AND 40.
TUESDAY: PARTLY CLOUDY AND 72.

Cool Friday - Warmer This Weekend

After record snowfall for March 6 of .70" in Abilene, and amounts from 1 to 6 inches over the KRBC viewing area, sun returns Friday, but it will remain cool. Then, temperatures will be in the 60's Saturday and near 70 on Sunday.

Eastland and Breckenridge areas received the most snow on Thursday with 3 to 6 inches common across the eastern Big Country.

The next chance for moisture will be in the form of rain on Monday .. enjoy your warmer weekend.

Randy

Winter Weather Issues Today...

From Meteorologist Chris Whited in the KRBC Triple Doppler Weather Center...

...Winter Weather Advisory for Knox, Haskell, Throckmorton, Fisher, Jones, Shackelford, Nolan, Tayor and Callahan County from 6:00 AM until 6:00 PM CST...

... Winter Weather Advisory extended to include Brown, Coleman, Runnels and Coke County as well as of 8:00 AM this morning. The advisory for these counties is also in effect until 6:00 PM CST...

...Snow Advisory for Stephens and Eastland County from Noon until 3:00 AM CST Friday morning...

* Precipitation will develop this morning as a mix of rain and snow with some sleet possibly mixed in at times. As the air just above the surface cools, precipitation will change over to all snow after lunchtime. Some accumulation will be possible across the northern areas of the Big Country (I will us US Hwy. 180 and northward as the boundary) while ground temperatures will be a little too warm southward. Having said that, just like earlier this week, we could see some light accumulation of grassy spots in areas along Interstate 20. Temperatures will hold in the middle to lower 30s across the area today.

* Light snow will continue into the evening before tapering off this evening. Overnight will be cloudy and cool with lows in the upper 20s to lower 30s.

* Looking ahead a nice warming trend as we head into the weekend and early next week with highs climbing back to the lower 70s. Another chance of rain will enter the picture Monday and Monday night for the area.

* Time change: Don't forget the time changes this weekend. You may recall Congress passed the law to extend Daylight Saving Time so it will start earlier now in March and the time will not change again until November. Remember.... "Spring Forward" ahead one hour at 2:00 AM on Saturday Night/Early Sunday morning.

* Enjoy your day and stay with KRBC for the latest on the weather situation throughout the day.

Cold / Rain /Snow on Thursday

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

PLAN ON NASTY WEATHER ON THURSDAY - COLD WITH RAIN IN THE MORNING, THEN EVEN COLDER WITH RAIN CHANGING TO SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON.
THE ENTIRE KRBC VIEWING AREA SHOULD RECEIVE RAIN AND SNOW.
RAIN AMOUNTS COULD TOTAL UPWARDS TO A HALF INCH. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD REMAIN LIGHT, MAINLY ON GRASSY AREAS, DUE TO THE WARM GROUND CONDITIONS, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAD ON MONDAY BUT A TRACE TO ONE INCH IS POSSIBLE.

EXPECT HIGHS THURSDAY TO STAY IN THE 30'S. IN FACT, THE MORNING SHOULD BE WARMER THAN THE AFTERNOON AS THE COLD AIR SINKS IN FROM MID-DAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. SNOW WILL STAY IN THE FORECAST THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT.

BY FRIDAY, THE SYSTEM MOVES EAST BUT WE REMAIN COOL, HIGHS AROUND 50.

THE WEEKEND LOOKS SUNNY AND WARM WITH HIGHS AROUND 70.

ANOTHER SLIGHT CHANCE FOR RAIN HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE FORECAST ON MONDAY.

Front Arrives Today, Rain Chances Tomorrow:

A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTH ACROSS WEST CENTRAL TEXAS TODAY. WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT WILL BE IN THE 10 TO 20 MPH RANGE.HIGHS TODAY WILL BE MUCH COOLER FOR THE BIG COUNTRY.

AN UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL BEGIN TO FORCE WARM MOIST AIR UP AND OVER THE SURFACE COLD AIR
ACROSS WEST CENTRAL TEXAS AND PEAK AROUND NOON THURSDAY. WITH COLD AIR IN PLACE, A RAIN SNOW MIX FOR THE BIG COUNTRY THURSDAY. THE UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH MOVES EAST. SURFACE COLD AIR ADVECTION CONTINUES FRIDAY WITH NORTHWEST TO NORTH WINDS. HOWEVER...DECREASING CLOUDS WILL ALLOW MORE SUNSHINE TOWARM TEMPERATURES INTO TO MID TO UPPER 50S FRIDAY AFTERNOON

THE WEEKEND LOOKS GREAT IF YOUR HEADING OVER TO SWEETWATER FOR THE RATTLESNAKE ROUND-UP ACTIVITIES. THE COOLER AIRMASS WILL MODIFY EARLY NEXT WEEK AS DAYTIME HIGHS WILL CLIMB BACK INTO THE 70S.

weather

It's going to be chilly tonight across the Big Country.  Temperatures Wednesday in the low 60's as a cold front arrives.  Dreary and cool Thursday, highs mid 40's, slight chance for rain.

Cooler Air Arrives Wednesday, Lingers Thursday

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ....


ANOTHER COLD FRONT IS ON THE WAY AND WILL BE HERE AROUND THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE WARM WEATHER TODAY BECAUSE TEMPERATURES TOMORROW SHOULD BE A LITTLE COOLER, AND TEMPERATURES ON THURSDAY WILL BE COLD AGAIN.
LOWS THIS MORNING DIPPED INTO THE 20'S BUT HIGHS THIS AFTERNOON REBOUNDED INTO THE MIDDLE 60'S. LOWS TONIGHT SHOULD FALL INTO THE UPPER 30'S BEFORE MAKING THE LOW 60'S TOMORROW. THE FRONT WILL KEEP A CHILL IN THE AIR THROUGH FRIDAY, BUT WE'LL WARM UP AGAIN THIS WEEKEND INTO THE 60'S AND 70'S. THE BIG QUESTION IS WILL WE GET RAIN FROM THE FRONT? WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY, A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS IS IN THE FORECAST, BUT I'M NOT EXPECTING MUCH IN TERMS OF ACCUMULATION, MOSTLY LIGHT.

TONIGHT - CLEAR AND 38.
WEDNESDAY - SUNNY AND 62 WITH A COLD FRONT ARRIVING.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT - INCREASING CLOUDINESS AND 35.
THURSDAY - MOSTLY CLOUDY AND COLD, HIGHS MIDDLE 40'S, LIGHT SHOWERS.

Nice Weather Today...

FROM METEOROLOGIST CHRIS WHITED...

A SURFACE TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP ALONG THE TEXAS ANDNEW MEXICO BORDER BY THIS AFTERNOON. IN RESPONSE TO THIS DEVELOPING TROUGH...SURFACE WINDS ACROSS WEST CENTRAL TEXAS WILL BECOME MORE WESTERLY TO SOUTHWESTERLY. THIS SOUTHWESTERLYFLOW...ALONG WITH SUNNY SKIES...WILL HELP PUSH AFTERNOON HIGHS TODAY BACK INTO THE 65 TO 70 DEGREE RANGE. AN APPROACHING COLDFRONT WILL PUSH THE SURFACE TROUGH EAST ACROSS OUR COUNTIES OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. CONTINUED SOUTHWESTERLY LOW-LEVEL FLOW TONIGHT WILL HELP HOLD OVERNIGHT LOWS ABOVE THE FREEZING MARK...MAINLY INTHE 35 TO 40 DEGREE RANGE.ANOTHER COLD FRONT WILL PUSH SOUTH ACROSS WEST CENTRAL TEXAS WEDNESDAY. INCREASING CLOUDS AND SURFACE COLD AIR ADVECTION WILL HOLD AFTERNOON HIGHS A COUPLE CATEGORIES LOWER THAN HIGHS TODAY.


WINDS WILL RETURN FROM THE SOUTHWEST ACROSS WEST CENTRAL TEXAS TODAY. ALTHOUGH RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL BE IN THE TEENS THIS AFTERNOON...WIND SPEEDS WILL BE IN THE 10 TO 20 MPH RANGE...BELOW RED FLAG CRITERIA. ANOTHER COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA WEDNESDAY. AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL GIVE WESTCENTRAL TEXAS A CHANCE FOR LIGHT RAIN WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY.

WATCH FOR PATCHY ICE

FROM THE KRBC WEATHER CENTER ...

WINTRY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE BIG COUNTRY ANDNORTHERN CONCHO VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING...A POTENT UPPER LEVEL STORMS SYSTEM ACROSS WEST CENTRAL TEXAS WILLCONTINUE TO MOVE EAST THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. LIGHT TOMODERATE SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE THROUGH EARLY EVENING HOURSALONG AND NORTH OF A SAN ANGELO TO BROWNWOOD LINE. IN GENERAL...SNOWFALL TOTALS WILL BE ONE INCH OR LESS. ANY SNOW THAT DOESACCUMULATE WILL MELT QUICKLY AS GROUND TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTEDTO REMAIN ABOVE THE FREEZING MARK.MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO USE CAUTION AS TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TOCONTINUE FALLING THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS...WITHTEMPERATURES FALLING BELOW THE FREEZING MARK BY LATE EVENING. ONCETEMPERATURES FALL BELOW THE FREEZING MARK ANY MOISTURE ON ROADWAYSWILL REFREEZE...MAKING ROADWAYS SLIPPERY...ESPECIALLY ACROSSBRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOWTHE FREEZING MARK UNTIL MID MORNING ON TUESDAY

8:45pm Update

FROM KRBC ..

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX819 PM CST SUN MAR 2 2008TXZ054-127-030315-NOLAN TX-TAYLOR TX-819 PM CST SUN MAR 2 2008...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 915 PM CST FOR NOLAN ANDTAYLOR COUNTIES...AT 817 PM CST...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS INDICATED BY NATIONALWEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR 4 MILES NORTH OF HYLTON...OR ABOUT 10MILES NORTHEAST OF BLACKWELL...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.* THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... LAKE ABILENE BY 840 PM CST MERKEL BY 845 PM CST VIEW AND BUFFALO GAP BY 850 PM CST DYESS AFB AND TYE BY 855 PM CST IMPACT AND ABILENE BY 905 PM CSTPEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM.HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS...ESPECIALLY THOSE IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TOMONITOR THE SITUATION CLOSELY AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE THE PROPERACTIONS SHOULD A WARNING BE ISSUED.

Storms Tonight - Snow Monday?

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

GOOD EVENING - GET READY FOR ALL TYPES OF WEATHER OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. TONIGHT, SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE AS AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM MOVES INTO THE AREA. THE UPPER LOW PROVIDES THE NEEDED LIFT OR TRIGGERING MECHANISM FOR STORMS. BUT, SO DOES A DRY LINE / COLD FRONT ONE TWO PUNCH COMING IN TONIGHT. ANY STORM THAT DEVELOPS THIS EVENING WILL DO SO RAPIDLY AND MAY CONTAIN HAIL AND HIGH WINDS. AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION.

MOST OF THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL HAPPEN DURING THE OVERNIGHT BUT SO WILL THE ARRIVAL OF A STRONG COLD FRONT. ONCE THE FRONT PUSHES THROUGH THE ENTIRE KRBC VIEWING AREA BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND SUNRISE, ANY MOISTURE LEFT OVER WILL PROBABLY FALL AS A RAIN/SNOW MIX.

THE KEY THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT MONDAY - IT IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY COLD - HIGHS STAYING IN THE 30'S FOR MUCH OF THE KRBC VIEWING AREA. FACTOR WINDS IN THE 20 TO 30MPH RANG AND THAT MAKES WIND CHILLS TOMORROW IN THE 20'S.

ANY SNOW THAT DOES FALL ISN'T EXPECTED TO ACCUMULATE DUE TO OUR VERY WARM GROUND, BUT IT COULD CAUSE SOME TRAVEL ISSUES ACROSS OUR NORTHERN COUNTIES. AS QUICKLY AS IT GETS COLD, IT'LL WARM UP TUESDAY BACK TO THE LOW 60'S.

WATCH KRBC FOR THE LATEST WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.

Severe Weather Threat:

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
601 AM CST SUN MAR 2 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL
TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FOR MUCH OF WEST
CENTRAL TEXAS TODAY AND TONIGHT. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE
POSSIBLE TODAY...MAINLY AFTER 2 PM THIS AFTERNON WEST OF A LINE
FROM THROCKMORTON TO SWEETWATER TO SAN ANGELO TO OZONA...AS A
DRYLINE APPROACHES FROM THE WEST.

A POTENT UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL APPROACH TEXAS FROM NEW
MEXICO TONIGHT. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL ALSO DROP SOUTH ACROSS
WEST CENTRAL TEXAS MAINLY AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. WITH UNSTABLE
AIR AND STRONG LIFT ASSOCIATED WITH THESE WEATHER FEATURES...
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD QUICKLY DEVELOP AFTER 11 PM
TONIGHT AND BECOME MORE NUMEROUS. THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. AN ISOLATED
TORNADO WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THE STORM SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO TRACK EAST ACROSS THE BIG COUNTRY
ON MONDAY. RAIN SHOWERS ACROSS THE BIG COUNTRY EARLY MONDAY
MORNING COULD CHANGE TO SNOW SHOWERS AS THE COLD AIR WITH THIS
STORM SYSTEM OVERSPREADS THE REGION. WITH A WARM GROUND AND
TEMPERATURES ABOVE FREEZING HOWEVER...NO ACCUMULATION OF SNOW
IS EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

Friday Afternoon Update

From Meteorologist Nathan Motz....

Another day of above average temperatures and slightly breezy conditions here in the Big Country, but there are changes in store for late this weekend.

Tomorrow, we will begin to see some increasing clouds and winds out of the south bringing in a little bit of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. Then on Sunday night, a cold front and some upper level energy will move across the area, giving us a good chance of thunderstorms through Monday morning.

At this time, it does appear that some of these storms will have the potential to be strong to severe, especially across our eastern counties. Still, these storms should bring some beneficial rainfall along with the chance of severe weather.

Cooler temperatures will arrive with the front on Monday and temperatures should moderate somewhat by Tuesday and Wednesday before another cold front cools us off for the end of next week.

Have a great weekend!!!

Texas Drought Update:

* Just wanted to point out that the new data from the US Drought Monitor was released recently and conditions are worsening across West Central Texas.

* The Big Country region (roughly north of Interstate 20) is now all placed under Drought Stage 1 - Moderate conditions. Conditions worsen across the Northern Concho Valley and the Heartland as those areas of West Central Texas are now under Drought Stage 2 - Severe conditons.

* Other than the chance for rain late Sunday and early Monday, the pattern over the next week and a half looks to remain dry and above normal on temperatures.

* You can get more on the drought here in Texas and across the United States at this link: http://www.drought.unl.edu/DM/monitor.html

-KRBC Meteorologist Chris Whited

Warm & Muggy Weekend, Strong Storms Sunday Night

Good Morning Everyone:

Fire threat is lower today thanks to low clouds and a front that is slipping through the Big Country this morning. We are seeing overcast conditions in some areas but sunshine will pop out from the clouds from time to time in the southern areas while areas north of I-20 should see a partly cloudy day. Highs today will top out in the upper 60s to lower 70s.

Low level moisture and higher dewpoints will return as we go into the weekend ahead of our next storm system late Sunday. Highs will reach into the middle and upper 70s with mild nights ahead.

Severe Weather: The Storm Prediction Center has a good part of our area (roughly along and west of TX 208 or a Snyder to Sweetwater to Robert Lee line) under a slight risk for severe weather for late Sunday and early Monday. Here is a piece of the Hazardous Weather Outlook from the NWS/San Angelo:

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY AS A STRONG UPPER LEVEL
STORM SYSTEM APPROACHES. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH
SUNDAY NIGHT. DUE TO THE STRENGTH OF THE SYSTEM...ISOLATED SEVERE
STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE...MAINLY ALONG AND EAST OF AN ABILENE TO SAN ANGELO TO SONORA LINE.

Next week will start on a cool note with overcast and chilly conditions for Monday but a quick warming trend on Tuesday before the next front arrives middle to late next week.

Out in "voodoo" land on the forecast models (roughly 7-14 days out) things appear to remain dry and warm with the main storm track to the North of West Central Texas and off to the east across the Deep South.

More on your forecast coming up this morning on West Texas Today and of course tonight on KRBC News at 5,6, and 10:00.

Have a great weekend!

- KRBC Meteorologist Chris Whited

Elevated Fire Danger Across West Central Texas:

From KRBC Meteorologist Chris Whited...

The National Weather Service in San Angelo, Midland, Fort Worth and Norman have placed all of the KRBC viewing area under a Red Flag Warning for today as we are set up for another dry and windy day across the Big Country, Heartland and the Northern Concho Valley. There is also a Lake Wind Advisory in effect for the area waterways across West Central Texas.

A weak front will move into the area late tonight only bringing a few clouds and will cool temperatures down only a few degrees into the upper 60s and lower 70s on Friday. Warmer weather will be back in place over the weekend ahead of the next front which will move in late Sunday and early Monday. Forecast models are bringing rain chances with the front. Looks like the best rain chances will be across the Eastern Big Country and the Heartland.

Next week we will see a taste of cooler air working into the area however the fire threat will probably increase again as we dry out from what rain we may see Sunday and Monday. Looking down the road, the extended periods of the model runs keep our area relatively dry and warm. I don't see any good rain chances beyond the 7 day forecast period.

Finally, you may notice I am the new face on West Texas Today and with KRBC News. A little about me... I'm from Oneonta, Alabama and received my degree from Mississippi State University. I actually started my career just down the road at our sister station KLST where I was the weekend meteorologist and a news reporter from 2004 to late 2006. Some of you in the Northern Concho Valley may remember me from my days in San Angelo. In addition to working in San Angelo, I have also worked as the morning meteorlogist (my last job before joining KRBC) at WTOK-TV in Meridian, Mississippi. I'm excited to be back in West Texas and forecasting weather for KRBC. Feel free to drop me a line anytime at cwhited@krbc.tv if you have a question about something or want to know a little more about me.

Enjoy your Thursday

HIGH FIRE DANGER AGAIN THURSDAY

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

SOME THINGS NEVER SEEM TO CHANGE. LATELY, THE GUSTY WIND, LOW HUMIDITY AND LACK OF RAIN CONTINUES TO FUEL THE FIRE DANGER. ONCE AGAIN THURSDAY, WIND FROM THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST WILL GUST FROM 20 TO 30MPH, SOMETIMES HIGHER, LEADING TO RED FLAG WARNINGS AROUND OUR AREA. BURN BANS ARE IN EFFECT AREAWIDE.

THE QUESTION THEN BECOMES "WHEN WILL IT RAIN?"

THE ANSWER IS AN OUTSIDE CHANCE THIS WEEKEND, ESPECIALLY SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT, BUT I'M NOT EXPECTING ANY SIGNIFICANT TOTALS AND NOT EVERYONE WILL SEE RAIN. IT IS A VERY SLIGHT CHANCE.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: CLEAR AND 41. SSW WIND 10 TO 15.
THURSDAY: SUNNY AND WINDY, HIGH 78. SSW WIND 20 TO 30.
THURSDAY NIGHT: CLEAR AND 44 WITH A WEAK COLD FRONT DROPPING IN.
FRIDAY: MOSTLY SUNNY TO PARTLY CLOUDY, HIGH NEAR 68.
FRIDAY NIGHT: PARTLY CLOUDY AND 50.
SATURDAY: PARTLY CLOUDY AND WARM, HIGHS LOW TO MID 70'S, SLIGHT CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON SHOWERS OR STORMS.
SATURDAY NIGHT: PARTLY CLOUDY, LOW 50'S, SLIGHT CHANCE FOR STORMS.
SUNDAY: PARTLY CLOUDY AND WARM, APPROACHING 80, SLIGHT CHANCE FOR STORMS.
SUNDAY NIGHT: STRONG COLD FRONT ARRIVES, LOW 40.
MONDAY: MOSTLY SUNNY, AROUND 60.

Warmer and Windy Today

From Meteorologist Brandon Rector...

We are starting off with a wide range of temperatures this morning. In some locations, such as Brownwood, it is in the low 20s because of calm winds. In others it is in the 30s to low 40s due to winds from the southwest at 8 to 14 mph. It will be warmer for us today thanks to those southwest winds. Highs look to be in the mid 60s to 70 across the area. Winds should pick up from 5 to 10 mph this morning to 15 to 20 mph this afternoon. We have Red Flag Warnings in effect for Haskell, Fisher, Jones, Nolan, Taylor, Coke and Runnels counties from noon to 6 pm today. These counties as well as Throckmorton, Shackelford, Callahan, Coleman and Runnels counties are under a Fire Weather Watch for Thursday afternoon. With high to critical fire weather conditions expected the next couple of days, we need to continue to use extreme caution outdoors.

Tomorrow should be even warmer with stronger southwest winds. Highs look to be in the low to mid 70s.

A weak cold front is expected to move through the region early Friday. This will cool us down a bit for the end of the work week with highs in the upper 60s.

Saturday looks to be mostly cloudy with more moisture in the area. With an upper level disturbance possibly passing by, there is a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms. Highs will be in the low 70s.

The slight chance for rain will continue on Sunday with warmer temperatures. Highs look to be in the upper 70s.

A strong cold front is expected to move through the Big Country Sunday night into Monday morning. The chance for showers and thunderstorms will increase to 20%. Highs for the start of next week should be in the mid 50s.

On a side note, this will be my last weather blog here at KRBC. I am moving to another station in Lincoln, Nebraska. It has been an honor, priveledge and joy to forecast the weather here in the Big Country over the past four and a half years. Thank you for relying on me as your source for weather. I wish everyone all the best for the future.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Freeze Wednesday AM - Then Warmer

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

AFTER CHILLY TEMPERATURES TODAY, WE'LL GET BACK TO WARM WEATHER WEDNESDAY AND CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE WARMTH THROUGH SUNDAY. WHAT WE SHOULD SEE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS IS A GRADUAL RETURN OF LIMITED GULF MOISTURE. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR WEATHER IS A VERY SLIGHT CHANCE FOR SHOWERS OR ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS LATE SATURDAY, SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY. THE CHANCE ISN'T GOOD AT ALL. MOST LIKELY, AS HAS BEEN THE CASE, THE BEST CHANCE FOR RAIN WILL STAY TO OUR EAST. ANOTHER STRONG COLD FRONT IS DUE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY. TONIGHT - LOOK FOR A FREEZE AREAWIDE, LOW NEAR 30 IN ABILENE. ON WEDNESDAY, EXPECT HIGHS AROUND 66 AND INTO THE LOW 70'S BY THURSDAY. WEEKEND TEMPERATURES WILL BE EVEN WARMER WITH SOME UPPER 70'S TO LOW 80'S.

Much Cooler, But Still Windy

From Meteorologist Brandon Rector...

We are starting off colder this morning with temperatures in the mid 30s to mid 40s. Winds are breezy from the north right now, but by this afternoon it should be windy. Winds are expected to be sustained at 15 to 25 mph with gusts of 30 to 35 mph. We will be much cooler today with highs in the mid to upper 50s. Our fire danger remains elevated today, so please be careful out there. Comanche, Eastland and Stephens counties are under a Red Flag Warning and Wind Advisory through this afternoon. Critical fire weather conditions are expected in those areas today.

High fire danger will remain areawide Wednesday and Thursday due to strong southerly winds. Highs will range from the upper 60s to low 70s during this time period.

A cold front is expected to move through the area on Friday. This will cool us down a bit with highs in the mid to upper 60s. It looks like we will not see any precipitation out of the front.

We will bring in a slight chance for rain Saturday afternoon through Monday due to an upper level trough that may affect the area. Highs this weekend should be in the upper 60s to low 70s. A cold front is expected to move through the area on early Monday. This will cool our highs down to the low to mid 50s.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

MORE WINDY WEATHER TUESDAY

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..
HUGE GRASS FIRES IN COKE, STERLING, CALLAHAN, COLEMAN AND OTHER COUNTIES KEPT FIREMEN BUSY MONDAY. WHILE THE WIND SHOULDN'T BE AS GUSTY TUESDAY, IT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO CONTINUE CAUSING A HAZARD AND WILD FIRE DANGER PERSISTS.

EXPECT MUCH COOLER TEMPERATUERS TUESDAY, AROUND 30 DEGREES COOLER THAN THE 90 WE HAD MONDAY IN ABILENE.

WIND WILL BE 10 TO 20 WITH GUSTS TO 25 TUESDAY. STILL DRY, WITH NO RAIN IN THE FORECAST.

WE SHOULD SEE A FREEZE TUESDAY NIGHT BUT REBOUND TO ABOUT 70 ON WEDNESDAY AND STAY IN THE 70'S INTO THE WEEKEND.

I HAVE ADDED A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR RAIN TO THE FORECAST SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

Warm and Windy Start To The Week

From Meteorologist Brandon Rector...

We are starting off mild this morning with temperatures mainly in the mid 50s to low 60s. There are a few locations such as Brownwood that have managed to drop down to the mid 40s. The reason for the difference in temperatures is the wind. In Brownwood, winds are light from the south-southwest. In the other parts of the area, winds are stronger from the south-southwest. Overall today, everyone will be warm and windy. Highs are expected to reach the upper 70s to mid 80s. Winds will be strong from the southwest at 15 to 35 mph. A cold front is expected to move through the region during the mid and late afternoon hours. This will shift our winds to the northwest at 15 to 35 mph. No rain is expected with the front. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the entire area today. This means there will be critical fire weather conditions throughout the area. Please be careful and don't do things like throw cigarette butts out of the window of your vehicle.

Tomorrow will be much cooler and breezy with highs in the mid 50s to 60 under mostly sunny skies.

Wednesday looks dry with mostly sunny skies and highs in the mid to upper 60s.

Warm and windy conditions should return Thursday with highs in the low to mid 70s.

A weak cold front looks to move through the area on Friday. This will cool us down a bit with highs in the mid to upper 60s.

An upper level low may send some disturbances our way this weekend. We could see some showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms. The chance will be slight on Saturday and 20% on Sunday. Highs look to be in the low to mid 60s.

Have a magnificent Monday!

Hang on to Your Hat !!

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

IT'S AN ALL TOO FAMILIAR SITUATION MONDAY - GUSTY WIND, HIGH FIRE DANGER, RED FLAG WARNINGS IN EFFECT. AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING TO OUR WEST WILL SHIFT THE WIND TO THE WEST MUCH OF THE DAY BEFORE A COLD FRONT ARRIVES LATE DAY WHICH SHIFTS THE WIND TO THE NORTHWEST.

TEMPERATURES WILL BE AROUND 80 BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE COOLER AIR. ANOTHER PROBLEM COULD BE DUST IN THE AFTERNOON WAS THE FRONT BRINGS THE SOUTH PLAINS TO THE BIG COUNTRY.

I'M NOT EXPECTING RAIN THIS WEEK .. SOME SIGNS TRYING TO POINT TO A SLIGHT CHANCE BY NEXT SUNDAY BUT WAY TOO EARLY TO PUT MUCH CONFIDENCE IN THAT SCENARIO.

SUNDAY NIGHT - CLEAR WITH A FEW CLOUDS AND LOW NEAR 50.
MONDAY - SUNNY, WARM AND WINDY - GUSTY WIND MEANS HIGH FIRE DANGER, HIGH NEAR 80. SOUTHWEST / WEST / AND NORTHWEST WIND 20 TO 30.
MONDAY NIGHT - CLEAR AND UPPER 30'S.
TUESDAY - SUNNY AND 59 WITH GUSTY NORTH WIND - WILL FEEL CHILLY ALL DAY.
WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY - WARMING TREND BUT DRY.

Friday Afternoon Update

From Meteorologist Nathan Motz.....

Afternoon high temperatures will be on the increase over the weekeend, despite a weak cold front moving through the area late in the day on Saturday. Tomorrow through Monday, high temperatures will remain in the 70's to around 80 degrees.

However, the above average temperatures will move out of the area by Tuesday as a stronger cold front will drop temperatures back into the upper 50's. Rain chances will remain scarce, however, as drier winds from out of the southwest will limit the moisture return from the Gulf of Mexico. Thus, dry and mild weather will continue from Tuesday on into late next week.

Breezy conditions will also prevail tomorrow through Tuesday and we will have to watch the fire weather danger as a dry west-southwest wind will continue across the area. The fire danger will peak as we head into Monday as very warm temperatures in the lower 80's will combine with dry southwesterly winds and fairly low relative humidities.

Have a great weekend!!!

Warm Weekend Expected

From Meteorologist Brandon Rector...

We are off to another cold start this morning with temperatures in the mid 20s to low 30s. Fog has developed in many locations across the Big Country. This will be with us through at least mid-morning reducing visibilities. There could be a few slick spots in those areas that have received heavy enough mist so be careful. We should see decreasing clouds throughout the day. By this afternoon, highs look to be in the upper 50s to low 60s.

Saturday is going to be warm and windy with highs in the mid to upper 70s under mostly sunny skies. Winds are expected to be from the west-southwest at 15 to 30 mph.

A cold front looks to move through the area Saturday night. This will cool us down a bit for Sunday. Highs will be in the upper 60s to low 70s. Unfortunately, this should be a dry frontal passage for us.

Warm and windy conditions are expected to return on Monday with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. Winds should be from the south-southwest at 20 to 30 mph.

A stronger cold front looks to move through the region Monday night. This will cool us down significantly for Tuesday with highs back down in the mid to upper 50s. A shower or thunderstorm can't be completely ruled out with this front, but the chance is less than slight right now.

Have a fantastic Friday!

Warm Weekend on the Way

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

THE WARMING TREND BEGINS FRIDAY AND CONTINUES THROUGH THE WEEKEND. NO RAIN IS IN THE FORECAST OVER THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS. THE NEXT COLD FRONT SHOULD BE HERE MONDAY NIGHT.

GOING INTO THE WEEKEND - HIGHS 60-65 FRIDAY. 70-73 SATURDAY. 68-72 SUNDAY. MONDAY - MID 70'S, MAYBE WARMER.

ENJOY THE WARM TEMPS!!

Cold For Now, But Warmer Temperatures Will Return Soon

From Meteorologist Brandon Rector...

It is a cold start to the day thanks to the cold front which moved through the area last night. Some arctic air has moved into the region. Temperatures are in the upper 20s to upper 30s. There is some fog and mist across the Big Country. This is limiting visibilities and possibly causing a few slick spots on elevated objects like bridges and overpasses. Be careful as you travel this morning to your destination. Slow down and use low beam headlights when you encounter the fog. There is a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for Knox county this morning. We will not warm up much today as highs look to be in the 40s under mostly cloudy skies. There is a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms as the cold front remains stalled to the south and an upper level low passes us by to the north.

Friday should start off cold with temperatures in the low to mid 30s. By the afternoon, highs are expected to be in the mid to upper 50s under partly cloudy skies.

The weekend is looking beautiful with highs in the low 70s under mostly sunny skies.

We should start off the next work week warm with highs in the upper 70s on Monday. A cold front is expected to move through the region Monday night. It will be a dry frontal passage for us. Much cooler temperatures are likely Tuesday and Wednesday with highs in the mid to upper 50s.

Have a terrific Thursday!

Cold Into Friday

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..
THE TEMPERATURE WAS OFFICIALLY 78 DEGREES WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR THE TEMPERATURE TO FALL INTO THE 40'S AFTER THE PASSAGE OF AN ARCTIC FRONT. WIND CHILLS WERE IN THE LOW 30'S.

WE HAVE SOME UPPER LEVEL ENERGY COMING IN FROM THE WEST, NOT A DIRECT HIT FROM THE UPPER LOW, BUT ENOUGH TO PROVIDE SOME INSTABILITY. WE HAVE THE COLD AIR AT THE SURFACE AND WARM SOUTH WIND ONE MILE ABOVE THE GROUND. THE WARM OVER THE COLD ALONG WITH THE INSTABILITY LEADS TO OUR RAIN CHANCE .. SHOWERS AND ISOLATED T-STORMS .. TONIGHT AND THURSDAY. THE RAIN CHANCE SHOULD BE GONE BY THURSDAY NIGHT.

THOSE WATCHING KRBC FROM THE NORTHERN BIG COUNTRY COULD SEE SOME FREEZING DRIZZLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT/THURSDAY MORNING. KNOX COUNTY IS UNDER A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY BECAUSE OF IT.

HIGHS THURSDAY MIDDLE 40'S. BY FRIDAY THE MIDDLE 50'S. SATURDAY THE UPPER 60'S. SUNDAY AND MONDAY THE LOW TO MID 70'S AGAIN. THE NEXT FRONT TO COOL US DOWN AGAIN ARRIVES ABOUT NEXT MONDAY NIGHT.

HOPE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO WATCH THE TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE WEDNESDAY NIGHT, IT WAS COOL.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.

RANDY

Back Door Cold Front Will Be Here Soon

From Meteorologist Brandon Rector...

It is a cool start to the day this morning with temperatures in the low 40s to mid 50s. Areas of fog will be possible. In fact, there is a Dense Fog Advisory for Mitchell and Scurry counties until 9 a.m. It is in these locations that visibilities could be a quarter of a mile or less. Be careful if you encounter fog this morning. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination and use your low beam headlights. It will be partly to mostly cloudy today with highs in the upper 60s to low 70s across the area.

A back door cold front is expected to arrive by midnight tonight. It is called a back door cold front because it will back into the area from the north-northeast. Much colder conditions are expected Wednesday night through Thursday because there will be some arctic air behind this front. We have a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms tonight. Lows will be in the mid to upper 30s. Some locations, such as Knox County and the extreme northern portions of the viewing area, could get down to freezing. This means there may be a period of freezing rain in those areas. No major problems are expected as everyone will have highs well above freezing by the afternoon. Highs look to be in the low to mid 40s. There is a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms on Thursday.

We may see a few lingering showers early Friday morning. Skies should clear through the day as highs reach the low to mid 50s.

The weekend is looking dry with highs ranging from the mid 60s on Saturday to the low 70s on Sunday.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Sneaky Cold Front Drops in Wednesday Night

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..
THERE IS A FLY IN THE OINTMENT IN THIS FORECAST PERIOD, AND THAT IS THE UNCERTAINTY OF HOW MUCH COLD AIR MAY SPILL INTO OUR AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. I'M GOING TO LEAN WITH THE COLDER TEMPERATURES THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, BASED ON COLD AIR BEING IN PLACE, WARM AIR OVERRUNNING THE COLD AIR ABOUT A MILE ABOVE THE GROUND CAUSING DRIZZLE, LIGHT RAIN AND KEEPING TEMPERATURES FROM WARMING UP MUCH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. I'VE CHANGED MY FORECAST A LOT THURSDAY AND FRIDAY BY DROPPING TEMPERATURES IN ANTICIPATION OF THE COLDER AIR AND ASSOCIATED LIGHT MOISTURE. IT STILL APPEARS WE'LL WARM UP A LITTLE FRIDAY (50'S), 60'S BY SATURDAY, 70'S BY SUNDAY.

TUESDAY NIGHT: PARTLY CLOUDY AND 48.
WEDNESDAY: PARTLY CLOUDY AND 70.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: COLD FRONT DROPS TEMPS TO 32.
THURSDAY: A CLOUDY AND COLD DAY, HIGH OF 40, DRIZZLE AND A FEW SHOWERS.
THURSDAY NIGHT: CLOUDY, LIGHT SHOWERS, 36.
FRIDAY: MOSTLY CLOUDY, LIGHT SHOWERS (20%) AND HIGH OF 50.
SATURDAY: PARTLY CLOUDY AND 62.
SUNDAY: SUNNY AND 70.
THURSDAY NIGHT: C

Warmer Today, But Colder Later This Week

From Meteorologist Brandon Rector...

We are off to another cold start this morning with temperatures in the low to mid 30s. Today should be warmer with highs reaching the mid to upper 60s under partly cloudy skies. Breezy conditions are expected with winds from the south at 10 to 20 mph.

Mostly cloudy skies look to be with us on Wednesday as a cold front approaches the area from the north-northeast. This is what we call a backdoor cold front since it will back into the region. Highs for the middle of the week should be in the mid to upper 60s. There is a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms beginning Wednesday evening.

The cold air behind this front is expected to be shallow and much colder temperatures look to be with us Thursday and Friday. Upper level disturbances as well as an upper level low should move close to or over the Big Country during this time period. Our chance for showers and thunderstorms will increase to 30%. Highs on these days look to be in the upper 40s. We could be even colder, so stay tuned.

Saturday should be dry and cool with highs in the mid to upper 50s under partly cloudy skies.

Sunday and Monday will be warmer with highs in the low 70s.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Quiet Weather Pattern

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER..

CLOUDS HELD TEMPERATURES A LITTLE COOLER THAN EXPECTED MONDAY BUT IT WAS STILL A VERY NICE DAY.

AFTER A COOL MORNING TUESDAY, EXPECT ANOTHER FINE DAY, SUNSHINE AND HIGHS WARMING TO THE MIDDLE 60'S.

A PROBLEMSOME COLD FRONT LOOKS TO GET INTO AT LEAST THE NORTHERN BIG COUNTRY LATE WEDNESDAY WHICH WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE TEMPERATURE FORECAST. AS OF NOW, I'M GOING MID 60'S WEDNESDAY BUT THE FRONT COULD EASILY COOL THAT NUMBER IF IT PROGRESSES FARTHER SOUTH THAN ANTICIPATED.

WITH THE FRONT IN THE REGION, A SLIGHT 20% CHANCE FOR SHOWERS IS IN ORDER FOR THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT BUT IT LOOKS AS IF FRIDAY WE SHOULD BE BACK TO DRY WEATHER WHICH WILL CARRY INTO THE WEEKEND.

TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE WARM THIS UPCOMING WEEKEND.

Pleasant Start To The Week

From Meteorologist Brandon Rector...

We are starting off a bit chilly this morning with temperatures in the mid to upper 30s and mostly cloudy skies. This afternoon looks pleasant, but cool with highs in the mid to upper 50s under mostly sunny skies. If you are lucky enough to have today off for Presidents' Day, enjoy the outdoors.

Tuesday looks warmer and dry with highs in the mid to upper 60s under mostly sunny skies. We will likely deal with breezy south-southwesterly winds tomorrow.

Mostly cloudy skies will be with us Wednesday and Thursday thanks to an upper level trough and a cold front. Both should move through the area during this time period. We will have a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms Wednesday night and Thursday. Highs on Wednesday should be in the low 60s. For Thursday, we will have highs in the upper 50s.

Friday should be dry with highs in the low 60s under partly cloudy skies.

The weekend looks great right now with highs in the mid 60s to low 70s under mostly sunny skies.

Have a magnificent Monday!

Nice Weather Early Week

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..
LOOK FOR SOME NICE WEATHER TO BEGIN THE WORK WEEK. BY THURSDAY, A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR RAIN ENTERS THE FORECAST, ALTHOUGH IT DOESN'T LOOK TOO PROMISING AT THIS POINT - OUR EASTERN VIEWING AREA WILL SEE THE USUAL 20% CHANCE FOR SHOWERS.

TEMPERATURES WILL BE ON A SLOW CLIMB. MONDAY NEAR 58 FOLLOWING A MID 30 DEGREE MORNING. ON TUESDAY NEAR 65 AND AROUND 70 WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. TEMPERATURES FALL A BIT FRIDAY CLOSE TO 60 AS I ADD A SLIGHT 20% CHANCE FOR SHOWERS.

ENJOY SOME NICE WEATHER MONDAY AND LOOK FOR THE WIND TO PICK UP AGAIN TUESDAY.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

FROM THE KRBC WEATHER CENTER ..

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED UNTIL 7:00PM FOR BROWN, COLEMAN, COMANCHE, EASTLAND AND STEPHENS COUNTIES IN THE KRBC VIEWING AREA. THE WATCH EXTENDS EAST AND ALSO INCLUDES DALLAS/FORT WORTH SOUTHWARD TO WACO AND TEMPLE. FOLLOWING IS A COMPLETE LIST OF COUNTIES IN THE WATCH....

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 57 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CST
FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

BANDERA BELL BLANCO
BOSQUE BROWN BURNET
COLEMAN COLLIN COMAL
COMANCHE COOKE CORYELL
DALLAS DENTON EASTLAND
EDWARDS ELLIS ERATH
FANNIN GILLESPIE GRAYSON
HAMILTON HAYS HILL
HOOD HUNT JACK
JOHNSON KAUFMAN KENDALL
KERR KIMBLE LAMPASAS
LLANO MASON MCCULLOCH
MCLENNAN MENARD MILLS
MONTAGUE NAVARRO PALO PINTO
PARKER REAL ROCKWALL
SAN SABA SOMERVELL STEPHENS
TARRANT TRAVIS WILLIAMSON
WISE YOUNG

12:15pm Saturday Update

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..

...POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THIS
AFTERNOON ALONG AND EAST OF A LINE FROM WINTERS TO SAN ANGELO TO
SONORA...

THE STRONGEST STORMS MAY PRODUCE SMALL HAIL OR LARGER...GUSTY
WINDS...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING
THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.

BE PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

11:25am Saturday Update

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL NOON CST FOR HASKELL...
THROCKMORTON...SHACKELFORD...JONES...TAYLOR AND CALLAHAN COUNTIES...

AT 1051 AM CST...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE INDICATED BY NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR OVER CALLAHAN COUNTY...MOVING NORTH AT
55 MPH. ADDITIONAL STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP OVER THE NEXT
HOUR OVER PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN BIG COUNTRY.

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH ANY STORMS
THAT DO DEVELOP. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON
AREA ROADWAYS...ESPECIALLY THOSE IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. RESIDENTS
ARE ENCOURAGED TO MONITOR THE SITUATION CLOSELY AND BE PREPARED TO
TAKE THE PROPER ACTIONS SHOULD A WARNING BE ISSUED

11:15am Saturday Update - Svr. Potential

FROM THE KRBC WEATHER CENTER ..

THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER IS MONITORING THE KRBC VIEWING AREA FOR A POSSIBLE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. READ MORE AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md0240.html

NUMEROUS STORMS ARE ONGOING, ALL MOVING RAPIDLY NORTH AT 50MPH, HEAVIEST BEING IN CALLAHAN, TAYLOR, JONES AND SHACKELFORD COUNTIES AS OF THIS WRITING. STORMS TODAY WILL BE CAPABLE OF DROPPING HAIL AND HEAVY RAIN.

10:40am Saturday Update

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ...
STORMS ARE RAPIDLY INCREASING ACROSS THE AREA .. SOME HAVE ALREADY PRODUCED PEA TO PENNY SIZE HAIL IN COLEMAN COUNTY. WE'VE RECEIVED ONE REPORT OF HAIL COVERING THE ROAD ON HIGHWAY 84 NEAR SILVER VALLEY AND SOME CARS SLIDING OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE OF IT.

SEND ANY RAINFALL REPORTS OR STORM REPORTS TO RTURNER@KRBC.TV OR NMOTZ@KRBC.TV THIS WEEKEND.

AS OF 10:00AM - ABILENE HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF .41 OF AN INCH OF RAIN SINCE 6:00PM FRIDAY.

10:15am Saturday Update - T-Storm Warning

FROM THE KRBC WEATHER CENTER ..

1012 AM CST SAT FEB 16 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN ANGELO HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
NORTHERN COLEMAN COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL TEXAS...

* UNTIL 1045 AM CST

* AT 1007 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL. THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED 3 MILES NORTHEAST OF VALERA...OR ABOUT 6 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF COLEMAN...AND MOVING NORTH AT 55 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
SILVER VALLEY AND ECHO BY 1020 AM CST...
LAKE COLEMAN BY 1025 AM CST.

9:55am Saturday Update

FROM THE KRBC WEATHER CENTER ..

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE BIG COUNTRY AND
NORTHWESTERN CONCHO VALLEY THROUGH NOON TODAY. THROUGH 11 AM...AN
AREA OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE
NORTH AT 40 MPH THROUGH THE WESTERN BIG COUNTRY. ACCUMULATIONS
ARE EXPECTED TO BE LESS THAN ONE TENTH OF AN INCH FROM
RAINFALL...AND LITTLE TO NO ACCUMULATION OF ICE. SOME OF THE
THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL...GUSTY WINDS...AND
SMALL HAIL.

TEMPERATURES WERE HOLDING 30-32 AROUND THE VIEWING AREA..

6:50am Saturday Update

GOOD MORNING FROM THE KRBC WEATHER TEAM ..

WE ARE IN STORE FOR MORE THUNDERSTORMS AND RAIN TODAY ACROSS THE KRBC VIEWING AREA. WITH A BIG UPPER LEVEL STORM BEGINNING TO MOVE OUR WAY FROM THE WEST, WIDESPREAD RAIN SHOULD DEVELOP THIS MORNING BUT A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE, TOO.

FOR THE EARLY MORNING TO MID MORNING HOURS, THE TEMPERATURE WILL HOVER RIGHT AROUND FREEZING. BUT LATE MORNING WE SHOULD BREAK ABOVE FREEZING AND BY THE END OF THE DAY SHOULD MAKE IT TO THE UPPER 30'S. NO SERIOUS TRAVEL ISSUES WERE BEING REPORTED EARLY THIS MORNING AS OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES STAYED BETWEEN 30 AND 32.
HOWEVER, IT IS PRUDENT TO SLOW DOWN, TAKE IT EASY, AND WATCH FOR PATCHY ICE ON ROADS, BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES ESPECIALLY.

WE EXPECT A LINE OF STORMS TO DEVELOP TO OUR WEST AND MOVE EAST TODAY WITH MOST OF THE ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE BETWEEN 8:00AM AND 5:00PM.

3:00am Update Saturday

Storms were re-developing at 3:00am in the western and southwestern Big Country. See statement below:

NOLAN TX-TAYLOR TX-COKE TX-RUNNELS TX-
251 AM CST SAT FEB 16 2008

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 330 AM CST FOR NOLAN...
TAYLOR...COKE AND RUNNELS COUNTIES...

AT 246 AM CST...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS INDICATED BY NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF TENNYSON...OR
ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ROBERT LEE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
BRONTE AND MAVERICK BY 255 AM CST
WILMETH BY 310 AM CST
BLACKWELL AND WINGATE BY 315 AM CST
HAPPY VALLEY BY 325 AM CST
NOLAN BY 330 AM CST

PEA SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH ARE LIKELY WITH THIS STORM.
HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS...
ESPECIALLY THOSE IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO
MONITOR THE SITUATION CLOSELY AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE THE PROPER
ACTIONS SHOULD A WARNING BE ISSUED

1:30am SATURDAY UPDATE

FROM KRBC CHIEF METEOROLOGIST RANDY TURNER ..
BROWN-CALLAHAN-COKE-COLEMAN-CONCHO-CROCKETT-FISHER-HASKELL-IRION-
JONES-KIMBLE-MASON-MCCULLOCH-MENARD-NOLAN-RUNNELS-SAN SABA-
SCHLEICHER-SHACKELFORD-STERLING-SUTTON-TAYLOR-THROCKMORTON-TOM GREEN-
113 AM CST SAT FEB 16 2008

.NOW...
A WINTER STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE BIG COUNTRY AND
NORTHWESTERN CONCHO VALLEY THROUGH NOON TODAY. THROUGH 3 AM...AREAS
OF DRIZZLE WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE FOR AREAS SOUTHOF A LINE FROM STERLING CITY TO BROWNWOOD. NORTH OF THIS LINE...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...AND OCCASIONAL LIGHT DRIZZLE OR FREEZINGDRIZZLE WILL CONTINUE.

ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE LESS THAN ONE
TENTH OF AN INCH WITH THE RAIN...AND LITTLE TO NO ACCUMULATION OF
ICE. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BRIEFLY PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL...
GUSTY WINDS...AND SMALL HAIL

11:50pm UPDATE

JONES TX-
1136 PM CST FRI FEB 15 2008

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST
FOR EASTERN JONES COUNTY...

AT 1135 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO
INDICATE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL.
THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF US-180 AND FARM ROAD
600...OR ABOUT 12 MILES EAST OF ANSON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
LUEDERS AND AVOCA BY 1145 PM CST...

Update at 11:00pm

FROM RANDY TURNER IN THE KRBC WEATHER CENTER ...

SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATION EXPECTED ACROSS THE BIG COUNTRY
TONIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY...

.A STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS WEST CENTRAL
TEXAS TONIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY. A LAYER OF COLD AIR IS IN PLACE
AT THE SURFACE WITH TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TO STAY AT OR BELOW
FREEZING. LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CONTINUE THIS EVENING
ACROSS THE BIG COUNTRY. HEAVIER RAIN WILL DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT
AHEAD OF THE UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM...WITH SIGNIFICANT ICE
ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED.

FARTHER SOUTH OVER THE CONCHO VALLEY AND PORTIONS OF THE
HEARTLAND AND NORTHERN EDWARDS PLATEAU, TEMPERATURES IN THE HIGHER
ELEVATIONS HAVE DROPPED TO RIGHT AROUND THE FREEZING MARK AND SOME
OFF AND ON LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE OR RAIN IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
TONIGHT.

T-Storm Warning

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX
1043 PM CST FRI FEB 15 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN ANGELO HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
SOUTH CENTRAL JONES COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL TEXAS...
NORTH CENTRAL TAYLOR COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL TEXAS...

* UNTIL 1115 PM CST

* AT 1041 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL. THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED 2 MILES WEST OF DYESS AFB...OR ABOUT 10 MILES
WEST OF ABILENE...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH

10:30pm Update

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED TONIGHT DROPPING LARGE QUARTER TO GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL OVER TYE A LITTLE AFTER 10PM, THE SAME STORM MOVED NORTHEAST INTO SOUTHEAST JONES COUNTY. ANOTHER LARGE STORM WILL MOVE OVER ABILENE BETWEEN 10:30 AND 10:45, POSSIBLY LARGE HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. EXPECT STORMS TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING OVERNIGHT AND SOME COULD BE SEVERE - ALSO, ICE IS ACCUMULATING IN THE 30 DEGREE TEMPERATURES.

9:25pm Update

FROM THE KRBC WEATHER CENTER ..

THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA - LARGE STORM JUST WEST OF WINTERS PROBABLY HAS SOME HALF INCH HAIL IN IT, MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25-30 INTO TAYLOR COUNTY, MAY COME ACROSS ABILENE ABOUT 10:00PM.