First Alert Weather Extra

After the passing of a strong fall cold front this morning, it will be brisk for high school football tonight. North winds gusting over 20 mph and temperatures in the 50s are expected this evening. The weekend will feature sunny skies and some of the coolest mornings in East Texas since April. Lows both Saturday and Sunday will be in the 40s with afternoon temperatures in the 60s and 70s. The forecast is dry this weekend and through next Friday, our next chance for rain looks to be next weekend. Even then, the chances are low.

 

Today in weather history... October 16, 1988, a strong tornado struck north of Nappanee, Indiana. The F2 tracked for 6 miles, narrowly missing a high school at one point along the path. In total, 21 homes were damaged or destroyed and around half a million dollars in damage was produced. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

Also on today's edition of First Alert Weather Extra, updates on flooding in South America and details on a new hunting program in Louisiana. In closing, our satellite imagery of the day, showing fall foliage progression in the northeast U.S., courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

A strong fall cold front will move through East Texas tonight into Friday morning. The front, currently moving through North Texas, will bring a chance for a few showers through Friday morning. As dry air comes in behind the front, the chance for rain will come to an end by midday Friday. The dry air, combined with brisk north winds gusting over 30 mph, will lead to a very high fire danger on Friday. Please note: Texas regulations prohibit outdoor burning when wind speeds exceed 23 mph - even if there is not a burn ban in place. 

 

Temperatures Friday morning will be in the 50s and 60s as the cold front pushes through Deep East Texas around daybreak. Officially, Friday's high temperatures will likely be in the 70s as that's where we'll be before the cold front drops temperatures overnight tonight. Friday afternoon, temperatures will range from the low 60s to the upper 60s, generally cooler for North East Texas and warmer to the south. For Friday night football, temperatures will be dropping into the 50s with a wind chill potentially in the 40s as winds continue to gust up to 30 mph.

 

Looking ahead to the weekend, temperatures will continue to drop from the warmer than normal range we've felt in recent days. Lows both Saturday and Sunday will be in the 40s, high temperatures will be in the 60s and low 70s. Mostly sunny skies are expected this weekend; there is no rain in the forecast. Next week, chances for rain do return to the forecast by the end of the week, and temperatures climb back into the warmer than normal range for mid-to-late October.

 

New today, NOAA released their U.S. Winter Outlook for December 2026 through February 2027. A very strong El Niño will likely have a significant influence on the upcoming winter. Ken Graham, director of the National Weather Service saying, "we know from decades of observations, a very strong El Nino will likely bring a southward and eastward shift to the jet stream for the contiguous U.S., which tilts the odds toward stormier weather across the South. While higher chances of rain and snow may bring relief to drought-afflicted areas, too much precipitation on dry soil can fuel destructive flash floods and mudslides."

 

As Moderate to Extreme Drought persists across East Texas in this week's update to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the NOAA Winter Outlook also includes good news towards drought improvement. Drought conditions are expected to improve or end across East Texas and much of the Southern Plains this winter. Currently, to end the drought in East Texas, around 13 inches of rain would be needed over the next month, or up to 20 inches over the next 3 months. Typically, East Texas normally receives around 10 to 12 inches of rain from mid-October through the end of the year. That said, both the November climate outlook, and the winter outlook, call for wetter than normal conditions in East Texas.

 

Today in weather history... October 15, 1984, Mother Nature had an interesting plan for the Broncos vs Packers Monday Night Football matchup. By the time the game concluded, more than four inches of snow had accumulated on the field of Mile High Stadium. The Broncos won 17 to 14. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

Also on today's edition of First Alert Weather Extra, we're getting an update on severe storms and flooding across the Central U.S. this week. In closing, our satellite imagery of the day, showing a large low-pressure system spinning near Iceland, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

 

Afternoon showers and thunderstorms will taper off into this evening. Overnight, skies will be partly to mostly cloudy as temperatures drop into the upper 60s by Thursday morning. A strong fall cold front is expected to move through East Texas on Friday, early enough in the day that highs on Friday will only be in the upper 60s and low 70s. As the front moves into the area, there will be a very low chance for a couple showers. Additionally, winds will shift and pick up out of the north. Wind gusts up to 30 mph and dry air behind the front will contribute to a very high fire danger on Friday. This weekend, temperatures will be cooler than normal for mid-October. Next week, temperatures climb back into the 80s and chances for rain return by the end of the week. The Climate Prediction Center continues to advise of heavy rain/flooding potential for East Texas towards the end of next week.

 

Today in weather history... October 14, 1909, a F3 tornado struck Pittsburg Landing and Stantonville, Tennessee, killing 24 people and injuring 80 others. Pittsburg Landing was reportedly "wiped off the map". Significant damage also occurred at the Shiloh National Military Park. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

This week's weather word is "euraquilo." (Also called euroaquilo, euroclydon.) A stormy wind from northeast or north-northeast in Arabia and the Near East. This definition comes from the American Meteorological Society's Glossary of Meteorology (2026).

 

Also on today's show, we'll look at the "jellyfish" cloud created by a SpaceX launch this week, and we're also following up on erosion from high surf in California. In closing, our satellite imagery of the day, showing a plume of water vapor from Hurricane Simon moves over the Central U.S., fueling severe thunderstorms over the region, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

 

Once again skies will become mostly cloudy to overcast tonight. By Wednesday morning, low-level clouds will blanket East Texas and some patchy fog will be possible. It will likely be too breezy in the morning for any widespread visibility issues, but it will be humid enough for some patches of fog in the morning. Temperatures drop into 70s overnight, and we'll climb into the low 90s Wednesday afternoon. There is a chance for showers and thunderstorms through the day tomorrow, but many of us will stay dry. The abnormal October heat and chances for rain will come to an end Friday with the passing of a cold front. Temperatures this weekend will be much closer to, and well below, normal for mid-October. The break from the heat and rain is short-lived as a return to the upper 80s and chances for rain are back in the forecast next week.

 

Today in weather history... October 13, 1984, dense fog contributed to a 118-vehicle accident on I-94, just south of Milwaukee. At the time of the massive pile-up, the visibility was reportedly close to zero. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

Also on today's show, we'll have continued updates on the recovery following Hurricane Isaias over the weekend. In closing, our satellite imagery of the day, showing the full journey of Hurricane Isaias from its formation in the Gulf to its dissipation over the Eastern U.S., courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

Partly cloudy skies will become mostly cloudy overnight as temperatures drop into the 70s. While it will likely be too breezy for widespread fog development overnight, low-level clouds and some patchy fog will be possible early Tuesday. Both Tuesday and Wednesday will feature partly cloudy skies with chances for showers and thunderstorms. It will also be hot both afternoons; highs will be in the 90s through Thursday. By Friday, a strong cold front will be moving into East Texas, dropping highs into the 70s for Saturday. Cooler air will continue to filter into the area Saturday night and drop lows into the 40s and 50s by Sunday morning. The break from the heat appear short-lived as highs will be back in the upper 80s towards the end of next week. Along will the warming trend next week looks to come higher chances for rain as well.

 

Today in weather history... October 12th, 1979, Typhoon Tip, located around 520 miles west-northwest of Guam, reached a world-record low minimum central pressure of 870 millibars.

Tip also set a world record for tropical cyclone size, as it achieved a peak diameter of ~1,380 miles. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

Also on today's show, we'll have updates on the damage left behind Hurricane Isaias over the weekend. Finally, our satellite imagery of the day, showing power outages in the western Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama as a result of Hurricane Isaias, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

 

The short-range forecast remains mostly on track this through the end of the week. Highs each afternoon will be in the 80s and low 90s through the weekend into next week. There will be a very low chance for rain on Saturday as Isaias moves inland; however, Isaias will be so far east that any rainfall or impacts will be minimal to none for East Texas. Chances for rain will increase next week with our next cold front. This front looks to arrive Friday of next week, dropping highs into the 70s by next weekend.

 

Today in weather history... October 7, 2024, Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified into a monstrous Category 5 near the Yucatán Peninsula. The storm's 1-minute sustained winds of 155 knots and 895 millibar central pressure tied it with 2005's Rita as the most intense hurricane on record in the Gulf. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

This week's weather word is "polacke." (Also spelled polake.) A cold, dry, northeasterly wind in Bohemia descending from the Sudeten Mountains (from the direction of Poland). This definition comes from the American Meteorological Society's Glossary of Meteorology (2026).

 

Also on today's show, we're looking a couple of images from space, as well learning why humpback whales are spending a lot of time in Monterey Bay right now. Finally, our satellite imagery of the day, showing convection bubbles and lightning flashes within newly-formed Tropical Storm Isaias, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

Sunny to mostly sunny skies are forecast through the end of the week. High temperatures will be in the middle to upper 80s each day. Low-end chances for rain are in the forecast beginning this weekend. Through next week, the forecast calls for daily highs in the 80s, mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies, and low chances for rain. Towards the end of next week, another cold front is expected and this could bring a drop in temperatures and higher chances for rain back to East Texas.

 

Today in weather history... October 5-6, 2020, in the span of just 28 hours, Hurricane Delta rapidly intensified from a tropical storm to a 140 mph Category 4. Delta was both the third major hurricane and third Category 4 of the year in the Atlantic basin. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

Also on today's show, our weekly forecast accuracy report and stories covering wildfire fighting technology to fall foliage. Finally, our satellite imagery of the day, showing a zoomed-out view of the weather present across North America, featuring a large mid-latitude cyclone draping from Canada to the Gulf where tropical disturbance AL92 is organizing. All the while the skies above most of the U.S. are free of clouds., Florida, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

Showers and thunderstorms will mostly taper off this evening in time for high school football. Some games may be affected by any lingering rain, but by and large, wet playing surfaces and mud will be the only issue for most tonight. Overnight, the development of more showers and thunderstorms is expected. Severe weather is unlikely, and rainfall rates should be low enough that flooding/flash flooding will not be as high of a concern. The First Alert Weather Days that have been in place will end with the expiration of the Flood Watches tonight. We'll have continued chances for rain this weekend, though coverage will not be as high as what we've seen yesterday and today. Lows will be in the 60s and 70s; highs will be in the upper 70s and low 80s this weekend.  

 

Today in weather history... October 2, 2002, Hurricane Lili peaked in the Gulf of Mexico, now known as the Gulf of America, as a Category 4 with maximum sustained winds of 125 knots and a minimum central pressure of 938 knots. The storm was the strongest Atlantic hurricane of 2002. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

Also on today's show, the National Park Service announced an iconic sea arch has collapsed, and the finalists for this year's Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards have been announced. Finally, our satellite imagery of the day, showing NASA’s Crew-13 heading for the International Space Station after launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

First Alert Weather Day(s) remain in place for tonight and Friday as heavy rain and the potential for flooding continue. A Flood Watch is in effect for several East Texas counties overnight. Some locations have already received over an inch of rain in our area, and rainfall totals will continue to rise with the additional showers and thunderstorms. The cold front will move through the area on Friday, keeping temperatures from climbing far into the 80s during the afternoon. Chances for rain will continue into the weekend, though the risk for flooding will come to an end on Friday, thus the First Alert Weather Days will not extend into the weekend. Next week, lows could be in the upper 50s, and highs will be in the upper 70s for a few days.

 

Today in weather history... October 1, 1890, the U.S. Weather Bureau was created when Congress passed an act transferring the meteorological responsibilities of the Signal Service to the Department of Agriculture. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

Also on today's show, we're learning about an emu rescue in Arizona after flooding this week, and continued updates on the flooding risk across the state and country. Finally, our satellite imagery of the day, showing a storm system drenches the Southwest U.S. to the Great Lakes with heavy rainfall and an accompanying flooding risk, fueled by tropical moisture form the Pacific, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

First Alert Weather Days are in place for Thursday and Friday as heavy rain and the possibility for flooding are in the forecast. Showers and thunderstorms will begin to move into East Texas Thursday morning and become widespread through the day. While the risk for severe weather is low, heavy rain could lead to flooding and ponding on roadways. Highs Thursday afternoon will be in the upper 80s before the clouds and rain drop temperatures. Showers and thunderstorms will remain likely through Thursday night into Friday and Saturday. Rainfall totals will range from one to three inches, with some parts of East Texas receiving even higher amounts. A cold front will move through the area on Friday dropping temperatures to the lowest they've been since May for some locations.

 

Today in weather history... September 30 - October 1, 2016, Hurricane Matthew reached Category 5 intensity in the Caribbean Sea north of Colombia. The storm was the first Atlantic Category 5 since Felix in 2007, and also broke the record as the southernmost Category 5 in the Atlantic Ocean. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

This week's weather word is "fowan." A dry, scorching wind of Great Britain and the Isle of Man. This definition comes from the American Meteorological Society's Glossary of Meteorology (2026).

 

Also on today's show, we're learning about an emu rescue in Arizona after flooding this week, and continued updates on the flooding risk across the state and country. Finally, our satellite imagery of the day, showing the nine-day long journey of Hurricane Polo traversing the Eastern Pacific Ocean, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.