Bob Peters Forecast

There were a few widely scattered showers over the northwest Wednesday morning and again Wednesday afternoon, while most of the region continued hot and dry.

Slight shower chances are present again Thursday and Friday. Though temperatures will be slightly lower, humidities will be higher. Thus, the excessive heat advisory was re-issued through 7 p.m. Thursday east of a Clarksville-Tyler-Lufkin line.

Wednesday’s showers were the result of a narrow upper air trough crossing through North Texas and Oklahoma. This trough was the remnant of what was once Hurricane Dolly.

Showers were generally along and north of the IH-20 corridor, with about 10 percent areal coverage, and amounts generally one-fourth inch or less.

Meanwhile, a mid-level low pressure trough was moving westward through the Gulf of Mexico. This enhanced the sea-breeze front, which brought a few showers into southeast Texas.

The sea-breeze should be somewhat more active on both Thursday and Friday afternoons. In addition, available moisture will be more plentiful.

As a result, showers on those afternoons should be generally along and south of the IH-20 Corridor, with coverage approaching 30 percent, and amounts still under one-fourth inch.

There will, however, be a few instances of very heavy rainfall, since available moisture should be about two inches.

The upper air high pressure ridge has weakened slightly. It should build back into the area beginning Saturday. This will suppress shower chances, and also send temperatures back to the century mark through mid-week.

Wednesday’s temperatures were slightly lower than those of Tuesday, and were still about 4 degrees above normal. Low readings Wednesday morning were from the lower 70s in the southeast to near 80 in the west. Low temperatures Thursday through Saturday morning should also be in the 70s.

Afternoon highs were in the 90s, and ran up to 5 degrees cooler than those of Tuesday. High readings will be in the 90s both Thursday and Friday afternoons. Winds were slightly stronger on Wednesday, blowing from the south at 10-20 mph. Southerly winds at slightly lower velocities are forecast for Thursday and Friday.

There was some high-level cloudiness Wednesday morning, associated with the showers and thunderstorms which were west of the region.

Skies were partly cloudy during the remainder of the day. Tyler’s highest sustaining wind velocity Wednesday was southerly at 18 mph with a peak gust of 21 mph, and an average velocity of 13.0 mph. Tuesday’s average wind velocity was 8.9 mph.

Wednesday’s average relative humidity was 55 percent, with higher values likely Thursday and Friday, and lowering values beginning Saturday. Tuesday’s average was 53 percent.

Tyler’s high temperature of 99 came at 3:46 p.m., following the day’s low of 75 at 7:09 a.m.