More Scattered Storms Today

Showers and storms were much more numerous on Tuesday with very heavy rainfall in some areas and some brief gusty winds. No major damage was reported but several areas had wind gusts of 25-35 mph which broke some small tree limbs. The major impact was the heavy rain which amounted to 1.5"-3.0" in a few bands...one extending from near Gilmer to Avinger and to near Atlanta, another one from just east of Sulphur Springs to just west of Mount Pleasant and a third one extending from Palestine to near Jacksonville. Otherwise, the heavy amounts were more scattered. A few pockets of close to 1 inch rain totals occurred near Hemphill, Lufkin, just east of Crockett, and near Lindale and Mineola. Longview saw some moderate showers with amounts ranging from just a few hundredths to about a half inch with heavier totals just to the northeast and southeast of Longview. Tyler somehow missed almost all of the rain, with heavy storms noted down toward the Troup - Arp area and also to the northwest around Lindale. All showers and storms have now dissipated and the rest of the late night and early morning will be quiet with partly cloudy skies, very humid conditions and even some patchy fog out in the country.

Today will be partly sunny, very warm and humid with a few more scattered showers and storms popping up during the midday and afternoon hours. However, they should be fewer in number than on Tuesday and concentrated mostly in eastern areas as the upper tropical wave starts to turn around and move slowly eastward.

Much of Thursday will probably be rainfree, but a fairly strong cold front will approach from the north during the evening and showers and storms will be very likely from Thursday night into Friday. During that time, a few storms could be heavy and become strong to severe.

By Friday evening, that front should push far enough off to the south to allow drier and slightly cooler air to move in from the north. This means a sunny and very nice weekend with cooler early mornings and warm, but less humid afternoons. The more comfortable weather should last through the early part of next week, before the heat and humidity returns.

TROPICAL UPDATE:

***HURRICANE BILL HAS NOW REACHED CATEGORY 4 STATUS WITH TOP SUSTAINED WIND OF 135 MPH AND GUSTS OF 160 MPH. IT CONTINUES TO MOVE WEST-NORTHWESTWARD AT ABOUT 15 MPH. IT WILL PASS TO THE NORTH OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS ON THURSDAY AND THEN HEAD TOWARDS BERMUDA, PROBABLY REMAINING AS A CATEGORY 4 STORM WITH TOP WINDS OF 130-150 MPH. AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL BEGIN MOVING OFF THE EASTERN U.S. AND WILL CURVE BILL MORE TOWARDS THE NORTH BY FRIDAY, MEAINING THAT AFTER IT PERHAPS DEALS A BIG BLOW TO BERMUDA, IT WILL PROBABLY MISS MOST OF THE EAST COAST OF THE U.S., CAUSING SOME HIGH SEAS. HOWEVER, PLACES LIKE NOVA SCOTIA AND NEWFOUNDLAND COULD BE IN FOR A HIT BY LATE IN THE WEEKEND OR EARLY NEXT WEEK. LUCKILY, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE STORM WILL BE WEAKENING AND MIGHT HIT AS ONLY A CATEGORY 1.****

FORECAST DETAILS:

TODAY: Partly sunny, very warm and humid with a few more scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms developing, especially in eastern areas...(overall rain chances: 40%). A few storms can be briefly heavy with gusty winds. High temperature near 93, but cooler in the afternoon from scattered storms. Winds SSE 5-15 mph with gusts up to 20-25 mph.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Scattered storms dissipating during the evening, partly cloudy and humid. Lows: 72-75. Winds S 10 mph.

THURSDAY: Partly sunny, hot and humid. Highs near 96. Storms may move in from the north by early evening. Winds S 10-15 mph.

FRIDAY: Tunderstorms likely Thursday night into Friday morning...a few can be heavy...Rain chances: 60%.
Clearing by late Friday afternoon. Highs just 89. Winds variable becoming N 10-20 mph.

SATURDAY and SUNDAY: Mostly sunny and mild, with lower humidity. Lows near 68, Highs 92-93. Winds ENE 5-10 mph.

MONDAY and TUESDAY: Mostly sunny...continued mild early morings: Lows near 70...Warm but dry afternoons... Highs: 93-94. Winds ESE 5-10 mph.