Bob Peters Forecast

Scattered showers and thunderstorms formed over much of the region Saturday afternoon as an upper air disturbance moved southeastward around the fringe of Tropical Storm Fay.

A thunderstorm moved into the Tyler area from the northeast, lowering the temperature in the city 16 degrees between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The thunderstorm was accompanied by gusty winds and heavy rain which lasted about 20 minutes. The city received 0.44 inch, while the airport measured 0.22 inch. Otherwise, Saturday was warm and sunny.

At late afternoon, there were two clusters of thunderstorms. The first, and strongest, extended from Clarksville eastward into Northwest Louisiana and Southwest Arkansas. It was this one which reached Tyler.

The second was over the East Texas Lakes Country. Those over the northeast likely produced some small hail along with gusty winds.

Rainfall amounts were up to one-half inch in the heavier showers. Fay was over the Florida Panhandle. It was forecast to move westward into Southeast Louisiana Sunday afternoon, and linger there for a couple of days before shifting northeastward at mid-week.

There could be some widely scattered shower activity over the southern part of the region between Sunday and Tuesday, but most of the area should remain dry. With the area under Fay's outer fringe, the air will be moving downward through the atmosphere.

This means warm daytime temperatures.

Also, Fay shifted the area's winds into the northeast Saturday morning, with velocities likely to continue in the 5-15 mph range, and winds shifting into the north before turning back southerly late Tuesday with the remnant of Fay's departure.

Saturday's temperatures ran near Friday's and were near normal. Similar temperatures are forecast for most of the coming week.

Low readings were in the 70s, with similar morning temperatures forecast through Tuesday.

Afternoon highs were from near 90 to the middle 90s, with slightly higher readings likely by Monday. Temperatures fell into the 70s where rain fell.

Tyler's highest sustaining wind Saturday was northeasterly at 14 mph with a peak gust of 35 mph during the thunderstorm, and an average velocity of 6.2 mph. Friday's average wind velocity was 7.8 mph.

Saturday's average relative humidity was 72 percent, with slightly lower values likely each day through Tuesday. Friday's average was 73 percent.

Tyler's high temperature Saturday of 93 came at 3:12 p.m., following the morning low of 73 at 6:53 a.m. The day's low of 72 came during the thunderstorm at 6:30 p.m.