The Texas thermostat is going up, and it is going to get really stinking obnoxiously hot through the rest of the week.
High pressure remains parked over Texas, bringing widespread triple-digit afternoon temperatures, warm nights and very limited rain chances for most of us.
In other words, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Louisiana get daily thunderstorms rotating around the heat dome. Texas gets jack-diddly-squat.
A few exceptions are possible:
• Scattered storms may sneak into the Texas Panhandle
• An isolated shower or storm could reach Texarkana and the ArkLaTex
• A few storms may pop up near a weak, not-as-hot front this weekend
Tuesday highs include around 105° in El Paso, 104° in Amarillo, 102° in DFW and Lubbock, and near 100° in Austin and Houston.
The heat may become even more obnoxious Thursday, with temperatures around 107° near Laredo, 105° in El Paso, 104° from DFW toward Wichita Falls and widespread triple digits elsewhere.
Overnight lows will mostly remain in the middle 70s through lower 80s. Those warm nights provide little relief and increase the risk of heat-related illness, especially for anyone without reliable air conditioning.
There is a little hope heading toward Saturday, Sunday and early next week.
The heat dome should strengthen but shift west toward California, Nevada and Arizona. That may allow temperatures to drop a few degrees across the eastern half of Texas while introducing a small chance for showers and storms.
This is not a fall front. It will still be August in Texas, and nobody is getting snow. It may simply become slightly less disrespectful outside.
The return of dry weather and daily triple-digit temperatures is also quickly drying grass and brush. Grass fires are already increasing, so be careful with:
• Welding and outdoor equipment
• Mowing over rocks
• Dragging trailer chains
• Parking vehicles over dry grass
• Anything else that can create sparks
No tropical mischief is currently on the horizon, and no major upper-level storm system is heading our way.
Stay cool, drink plenty of water, check on anyone without reliable air conditioning and protect pets from the afternoon heat.
Interactive Texas radar:
https://texasstormchasers.com/radar
Forecasts, alerts, interactive radar and video updates are also available through the free Texas Storm Chasers mobile app.
Video chapters:
0:00 Texas gets even hotter
0:35 Tuesday Texas Weather Roundup
0:44 Heat dome blocks most rain
1:44 Possible weekend relief
2:15 Where a few storms may develop
2:46 Triple-digit heat today
3:15 Warm nights provide little relief
3:58 Heat peaks Thursday and Friday
5:20 Grass-fire risk increases
#TexasWeather #TexasHeat
