As we’ve been talking about for several days now, we will be switching to a much more unsettled weather pattern this week with storms and widespread rain possible each day through the end of the week.  We’ll also see lots of beneficial rainfall this week across parts of the panhandle and northern Texas…areas which are still in drought and still in much need of this rain.  For tomorrow (Monday), the Storm Prediction Center has placed a portion of Western Texas including the western panhandle region, under a Slight Risk for severe thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon and evening.  The Panhandle and west Texas cities included in Monday’s Slight Risk severe weather Outlook are…Muleshoe, Seminole, Andrews, Odessa, Monahans, Pecos, Ft. Stockton, Alpine and surrounding towns.  The greatest threats tomorrow afternoon will be the typical lightning, large hail and high winds; however, an isolated tornado or two is also possible.  Flash flooding will also be a concern with the heavy rainfall expected with these storms.  Folks with outdoor plans tomorrow afternoon and evening, in or near the Slight Risk area, will need to keep an eye on the sky and have a way to receive weather warnings should any be issued for your particular location.  As this is a multi-day rain and storm evening, we’ll get to do this all over again Tuesday over pretty much the same area.  We’ll have more out on that Monday evening!

By and far, the biggest benefit as a result of the disturbed atmosphere this week will be a whole bunch of very beneficial rainfall for some folks that need it across northern Texas.  Keep in mind that the amounts below, which span from 7pm this evening until 7pm next Sunday, are just a forecasted average over a large area.  Some areas may see locally higher, or even lower, amounts.  I live in northern Texas, and while I’m getting a bit tired of wiping up muddy kid and husband footprints and cleaning mud-caked shoes, I recall it wasn’t that many years ago when 99% of the state was at Exceptional Drought levels and it felt like half the state was on fire.  We’ve come a long way since then, but we still have numerous lakes that are still below normal.  I’ll take every drop we can get!