Mixed Sun/Clouds; Isolated Storms

HUMID JUNE DAYS:  Very moist air will hang over North Texas for the foreseeable future, and we will still mention the chance of isolated to widely scattered showers and storms, mainly during the afternoon and evening hours today.  Most of them (not necessarily all) will come at around the noon to 9:00 PM timeframe, and the chances of any one spot getting wet is about one in five.  With a Bermuda High in place across the southeast, the Plains will experience a tightening gradient.  Meaning, warm and breezy weather conditions will continue through the weekend, and any showers and storms will become more isolated.  Saturday should be mostly dry, but isolated showers associated with a weak shortwave is possible on Sunday.  Otherwise, the weekend should be mostly dry with afternoon highs in the 90-93° range.

NEXT WEEK:  Not much change.  The main jet stream should remain well to the north of Texas,  so, very humid air stays in place.  Look for mostly sunny days with highs somewhere in the 90-95° range and increasing heat indices by Tuesday.  An overhead northwest flow could develop by midweek, which could open the door to complexes of showers and storms both Thursday and next Friday.  Due to natural uncertainties, we will only mention a small chance of rain during these days.

TROPICS:  The Atlantic Basin remains very quiet, and tropical storm formation is not expected through next week.

DUSTY DAYS: THE SAL (Saharan Air Layer) covers North Texas today. The dust, with origins from the African continent, is mostly several thousand feet off the ground, and will give the sky a hazy appearance. There can be some reduction in air quality, but it will not impact most people. We had some glorious sunsets last night over North Texas, and expect the same this evening due to the scattering of the sunlight.
The SAL moves into the Southern US just about every year. This is nothing unusual, and no “emergency” despite some of the media hysteria.
ON THIS DATE IN 1957: Hurricane Audrey was in the western Gulf of Mexico; a category three storm. Landfall would come the following day, June 27, between the mouth of the Sabine River and Cameron, Louisiana,. It would go on to cause unprecedented destruction across the region. Prior to making landfall, Audrey severely disrupted offshore drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Damages from offshore oil facilities alone was estimated at $16 million. Damage from the surge alone extended 25 miles inland. The rough seas killed nine people offshore after capsizing the boat they were in. Further inland in Louisiana, the storm spawned two tornadoes, causing additional damage. Audrey also dropped heavy rainfall, peaking at 10.63″ near Basile. In Louisiana and Texas, where Audrey first impacted, the damage toll was $128 million. The total death toll was 416.
Look for the next blog update by Colin Welty tomorrow...  Enjoy the day and have a great weekend!

Donovan Neal
Owner - ApexStorm