Good morning and happy weekend everyone!  Hot and mostly dry conditions will carry on through the weekend and into next week as a ridge of high pressure remains parked over the state.  We’ll see a few more 100 degree readings pop up this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon as moisture levels decrease just a bit which will allow temps to climb just a bit.  The official weather stations at both DFW and Waco have still not recorded a 100 degree reading yet, but that has the potential to change this weekend.  100 degree highs are expected across west central and western Texas today and along the Rio Grande Plains.  Abilene, Midland, San Angelo, Del Rio, Laredo and El Paso will all likely see temps at or just above 100 by this afternoon.

Heat index values will be ferocious this afternoon for parts of south Texas and the Rio Grande plains.  Heat Advisories are in place today across the southern coastal bend and Laredo area.  By around 4 to 5pm this afternoon, we’ll be seeing index values close to 110 around Laredo, 106 in and around Brownsville and around 109 across the rest of south Texas.  A good day to stay indoors if at all possible.

Rain chances today…minimal, with just a continuation of daily afternoon thunderstorm chances across western Texas and parts of the western panhandle as monsoon storms develop across eastern NM this afternoon and track east/northeast.  The upper coast could also see a few very isolated pop-up showers this afternoon along the daily seabreeze front as it pushes inland, but really nothing more spectacular than that.

Lows tonight will be mild and remain muggy across most of the state.  Most sites will not drop below 70 tonight, with many of the urban/metro areas across northern Texas not dropping below 80.

We’ll just have to get through this weekend and most of next week, then we’ll be looking at a possible pattern change for next weekend which may bring some rain and slightly cooler temps back into the forecast.  It won’t last long before the ridge builds back in again, but any relief and rain chances will certainly be welcomed!