Relief from the heat has arrived in the Texas Panhandle this morning with temperatures in the 60s. This afternoon temperatures will only climb into the mid and upper 80s across the Panhandle and South Plains. Northwest Texas, the Red River Valley, North Texas, and Northeast Texas will see slightly less hot weather today with temperatures about 5 degrees cooler than Monday. These slightly less oppressive temperatures are due to a weak cool front moving south. North of the front temperatures will be slightly less hot with a marginally drier airmass. South of the front oppressive heat continues with high temperatures in the 100-106 degree range. Even with the cool front the D/FW Metroplex will still hit 98-100 degrees today. Heat advisories remain in place for the Big Country, Central Texas, South-Central Texas, Southeast Texas, and East Texas. Beaumont is under an Excessive Heat Warning with heat index values over 110°F possible this afternoon.

Isolated thunderstorms are expected this afternoon in proximity of the front. Our latest data suggests a couple showers and storms will be possible across the Texas Panhandle, Northwest Texas, North Texas, and East Texas. Severe weather is not expected as wind shear will be far too weak to support organized thunderstorms. However with the heat in place stronger storms may produce microburst winds up to 50 MPH. Most activity will weaken around sunset except in the Panhandle where things may continue into the evening hours.

Folks north of the front are in for a relatively comfortable night with low temperatures in the upper 60s to mid 70s. Its August so thats about as nice as its going to feel in the summer. Folks south of the front, including most of Texas south of Interstate 20, will fall into the mid and upper 70s comparable to this morning.

Wednesday will have slightly cooler temperatures with highs in the 90s to lower 100s across Texas. Those temperatures are the norm for August and closer to our averages.