Another unsummerly week of weather is expected for Texas. Usually, by this time of year, we’re baking in the heat, with our only weather concerns coming from the Gulf of Mexico. With the upper-level high pressure (heat dome) remaining to our west, we’ll continue to experience below-average temperatures and daily chances of rain. Considering average high temperatures in July are up in the 90s, below-average is 80s or lower 90s. Toasty, but far less toasty than we could be in July in the great state of Texas. Tropical Storm Elsa will not impact Texas in any way, shape, or form.

High temperatures this afternoon will top out in the middle 90s across South Texas, Far West Texas, and East Texas. Thanks to clouds and rain chances, Comparatively cooler weather will occur in the Panhandle, West Texas, southeastward into the Big Country and Hill Country. Temperatures will top out in the 80s. It may not be chilly, but it is better than being 105-110 degrees.

Today’s Rain Chances

Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected again today across a large portion of Texas. Drier air will keep Texoma, and Northeast Texas dry today. The highest rain chances (above 60%-70%) are across the Hill Country, South-Central Texas, and Southeast Texas. We do not expect it to rain all day for most locations. Rain coverage will be highest during the mid-afternoon hours, increasing by late morning and decreasing quickly after sunset. A few storms may continue into the late evening across West Texas and Central Texas. Still, they will be far fewer in number versus this afternoon.

Today’s Flash Flood Outlook

Localized to isolated flash flooding is possible today, given the tropical nature of today’s showers and storms. The highest chance for flash flooding looks to be in the Hill Country, Central Texas, and South-Central Texas. Those locations received heavy rains on Sunday. Additional rain today could cause quick rises on creeks, streams, and street flooding. The heaviest storms may produce two to three inches of rain in one hour. If you come upon high water on a roadway, turn around, don’t drown – or total out your vehicle. The overall flooding risk will decrease by/after sunset as storms head off to their nightly sleep.

More downpours likely on Tuesday

Tomorrow will feature another chance of summer downpours across a majority of Texas. The highest coverage of showers and storms will shift south a bit. Those in the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas, the Coastal Plains, and Southeast Texas should see numerous showers/storms tomorrow. Isolated to scattered showers and storms are likely everywhere else, except for the eastern Texas Panhandle and southeast down the Red River into Texoma. Those folks probably won’t even get a rogue storm tomorrow.

High temperatures on Tuesday will be similar to today, with the 80s and lower 90s. Isolated to localized flash flooding may occur tomorrow afternoon in the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas, the Hill Country, and in the Coastal Plains, given the tropical nature of our summer storms.

Wednesday through Friday

The upper-level area of high pressure is expected to build in strength across the western United States by week’s end. Scattered daily thunderstorms are likely to continue across the southeastern half of Texas on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. We may end up having several inches of rainfall across Southern Texas into the Coastal Plains by Friday.

We’ll have to keep an eye out for localized flash flooding – along with rises on area rivers. With the worst of the heat dome remaining well to our west this week, temperatures will tend to remain a few degrees below average. Think the 80s and 90s versus the upper 90s and 100s. It may still be hot and humid, but at least it isn’t record-breaking heat or enough to put a big strain on our power grid (knock on wood).