Scattered showers and storms are possible again today across parts of the state. After today, the ridge of high pressure will begin to build east and over Texas once again which will lead to increasing temps and decreasing rain chances for the next work week. For today though, best chance of seeing afternoon pop up storms will be north of I-20, across much of northeast and eastern Texas, and across coastal Texas  with the daily seabreeze front. Chances overall are not high…mainly in the 20% to 30% range, and most of the storms will stay sub-severe with just a general lightning, brief heavy downpour and gusty wind threat. For the panhandle region, the short-range forecast models are showing another round of rain and storms forming this afternoon across northeastern New Mexico and southeastern Colorado which may move into the northern panhandle region late this evening and overnight. Most of this activity is expected to remain sub-severe with the main threat being lightning and gusty winds.

Highs today, mostly at or slightly above normal for July.  Hottest temps and associated heat index values will be found across much of deep south Texas and the Rio Grande Valley. Heat Index values from Brownsville up into the Corpus Christi metro region will likely top out between 105 and 109 today. Further up the coast into the Houston/Galveston metro areas, we’ll see heat index values near 105. Make sure to stay hydrated if you’re engaging in any outdoor work or recreation this afternoon!

Next week…high pressure returns once again. This will lead to increasing temps and not much in the way of rain chances through the work week. August itself is shaping up to be warmer than average and drier than average at least for the first two weeks of the month.  After that, it’s up in the air (pun intended) as to whether we trend wetter or continue to stay hot and mostly dry.