Good morning and happy Saturday!  A weak cold front has moved through the panhandle and is currently sitting just north of the Red River.  Unlike the front that came through earlier this week, this one will not get very far into the state, nor will it have a huge impact in temperatures behind it.  Gentle patches of rain have fallen overnight across the southern panhandle and a few places across northern Texas.  We do expect additional light rain development today along and just behind the front, but all rainfall amounts are expected to be very light.  Severe weather is not expected, but we could see one or two stronger storms pop up as we get into peak daytime heating.

Highs today will be seasonal and range from the upper 80s across the panhandle and western Texas, upper 90s for west central Texas, mid 90s for north and northeast Texas, and lower 90s across coastal and southeast Texas.  Cloud cover today across the western and northern portions of the state will help keep temperatures somewhat in check, but it will still feel like summer.  Lows tonight will be pleasant and in the 60s out west, with low to mid 70s expected further east.

Tropical Storm Erika was downgraded to a tropical wave this morning with highest winds reported at around 35mph.  It’s interesting to note that, up until late Thursday, most of the hurricane forecast models were projecting Erika to become a strong hurricane before it reached southern Florida.  Just goes to show you how fickle mother nature is at times, and even the best computer forecasting in the world can leave us humbled.  At any rate, she’s still worth watching over the next 2 to 3 days as the remnant low continues to push northwest and into conditions more favorable for redevelopment.  As my grandmother often told me, you don’t take your eye off a tropical system.