STRONG COLD SET TO MOVE IN FRIDAY MORNING....EXPECT SOME HEAVY RAIN AND A DRAMATIC DROP IN TEMPERATURES !

12:45 AM FRIDAY UPDATE:

**FLASH FLOOD WATCH NORTHERN AND WESTERN AREAS LATE TONIGHT AND ON FRIDAY...MAY HAVE TO BE EXTENED TO INCLUDE MUCH OF EAST TEXAS.

***A strong cold front now moving through southeast Oklahoma and North Central Texas will move from northwest to southeast across East Texas on Friday leading to numerous showers and thunderstorms and much cooler temperatures. We expect little if any damaging weather because most of the storms will will actually occur after the cold frontal passage. There will be some very gusty winds as the cold front moves through but most of the wind gusts will be 40 mph or less. The main threat will be flooding of some streets and low lying areas on Friday as 1 to 3 inches of rain is likely with some places possibly receiving over 4 inches of rain. Most of the heavier storms and heavier rainfall will occur during the morning and midday period across East Texas.

The arrival time of the stomrs should be roughly as follows: 5 AM - 7AM: Sulphur Springs, Emory and Canton areas. 7 AM -9 AM: Mount Pleasant to Tyler, to Athens and Palestine areas....9 AM - 11 AM: Jefferson to Longview to Henderon to Jacksonville and to Crockett areas....and 11 AM - 2 PM in the Carthage, Center, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, San Augustine and Hemphill areas.

Temperatures will will drop quickly as the cold front arrives with showers and thunderstorms dropping from the mid 70s early down into the lower 60s and upper 50s by midday and then down into the low 50s by late afternoon.

Some light to moderate rain can linger into early Friday evening...therefore some high shcool football games, especially in eastern areas, could get off to a wet start. However most of the rain should be out of the Tyler - Longview area by 8 or 9 PM. Twemperaures during the football games will be close to 50 degrees...so bundle up! Lows early Saturday morning should be mostly in the middle 40s.

Skies should partially clear for Saturday allowing for a little sunshine, but highs will only reach the lowe 60s. The cold front will stall just off the coast and with southwesterly winds in the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere the clearing trend won't last very long as "overrunning" resumes on Sunday causing thickening clouds and some rain possible in the afternoon and evening. Temperatures on Sunday will remain quite chilly staying mostly in the 50s.

The rain should end Monday morning, probably followed by some clearing and continued very cool conditions for late Monday into Tuesday, but another storm system may bring some more rain to the area on Wednesday and Thursday. With southerly winds returning we should finally warm back up to near normal (70s and lower 80s) by next Thursday.

FORECAST DETAILS:

OVERNIGHT: Mostly cloudy, windy, warm and humid with tempratures staying close to 80. Winds S 10-20 mph. Thundesrtorms will reach the far northwestern portions of East Texas (Sulphur Springs, Emory and Canton areas) before daybreak.

DURTNG THE DAY FRIDAY: Thunderstorms with heavy rain moving from northwest to southeast across the area, mostly between 7 AM and 1 PM. Some of the rain can be heavy enough to cause flooding of some street and low lying areas as 1 to 3 inches of rain is likely with up to around 4 inches in a few places. Temperatures will drop quickly from the 70s before the rain arrives to the upper 50s and lower 60s by Lunchtime and then down into the lower 50s by late afternoon. Winds becoming NNW 15-25 mph with higher gusts near thunderstorms. Some light to moderate rain will linger until late afternoon or early evening.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Rain ending during the evening, otherwise cloudy, brisk and rather cold with partial clearing towards morning. Lows at daybreak Saturday: 42-49. Winds N 10-15 mph.

SATUDRAY: Partly sunny and chilly but clouds may increase again by late in the day. High only 62. Winds NE 10 mph.

SUNDAY: Cloudy and cold with periods of rain developing in the afternoon. Low 50, High just 59. Winds ENE 10 mph.

MONDAY: Rain ending in the morning, partial clearing possible by late afternoon. Continued cold. Low 252, High 57. Wind NNE 15 mph.

TUESDAY: Partly sunny and continued chilly. Low 49, High 63, Winds NE 10 mph.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy and cool with a chance (30%) for some light rain. Low 55, High 65. Winds East 10 mph.

THURSDAY: Variable cloudiness, windy and warmer with a chance (30%) for scattered showers and thunderstorms. Low 64, High 82. Winds S 15-20 mph.

Scott Chesner