First Alert Weather Extra

Thursday and Friday are First Alert Weather Days as heavy rain will come with the potential for flooding and a low-end risk for severe weather. Most of Wednesday will be dry; temperatures will climb into the low and middle 90s under partly cloudy skies. The chance for rain will increase Wednesday night into Thursday, with widespread showers and thunderstorms expected both Thursday and Friday. Rain will remain possible into the weekend, though the chances will be lower and the risk for flooding does not appear as high.

 

Today in weather history... September 29, 1938, several tornadoes spawned by a tropical depression impacted the Charleston, SC, area. A pair of estimated F2s killed 32 people as many poorly-constructed homes and other structures collapsed. The damage toll was around $2 million (1938 USD). Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

Also on today's show, details on tidal flooding in Florida, the effects of Hurricane Polo in California, new research on the world's loudest bird, and a view of Earth from the International Space Station. Finally, our satellite imagery of the day, showing Hurricane Polo making landfall in Baja California del Sur and then crosses the Gulf of California before making another landfall near Guaymas, Mexico, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

Low-end chances for rain are in the forecast for the next couple of days ahead of a high chance for showers and thunderstorms late this week. Thursday and Friday are First Alert Weather Days due to the likely showers and thunderstorms and possibility for flooding. Rainfall totals could exceed 2 to 3 inches in some parts of East Texas. High temperatures will be in the 90s before the rain arrives, then we'll drop into the 70s and 80s by this weekend and next week. The two main components to this week's rain are moisture from the Pacific that has flowed into the atmosphere over Texas for the last week, and then a cold front that will arrive on Friday. After the cold front moves through East Texas, chances for rain will decrease, though not completely diminish. Additionally, temperatures will sit near to below normal through the end of next week.

 

Today in weather history... September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian reached Category 5 intensity in the Gulf of America, formerly the Gulf of Mexico, before making a catastrophic landfall in Florida as a high-end Category 4 during the afternoon. The storm killed 150 people and produced around $110 billion in damage in the state. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

Also on today's show, updates on the deadly nor'easter affecting the East Coast, as well as SpaceX's Starship splashing down into the Pacific today. Finally, our satellite imagery of the day, showing Hurricane Polo moves northward off the southwestern coast of Mexico, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

Partly cloudy to mostly clear skies are expected Friday night for high school football. Temperatures will be dropping into the 70s through the evening. The weekend will be warm with highs in the low to middle 90s under partly cloudy skies. Low-end chances for rain will return to East Texas Sunday and increase next week. Moisture continues to stream into the atmosphere from the Pacific and will in turn bring the higher chance for showers and thunderstorms as a cold front approaches East Texas by the middle of next week. There remains a question on when and if the cold front will reach our area; however, we are fairly confident that the rain and clouds will still be enough to drop high temperatures into the 80s.

 

Today in weather history... September 25, 1939, a tropical storm made landfall in southern California. It was the first tropical cyclone to directly affect California since 1858 and is the only landfalling tropical system in the state's history. The estimated death toll was between 45 and 93. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

Also on today's show, an update on the nor'easter impacting the East Coast. Finally, our satellite imagery of the day, showing a strong, early season nor’easter as it threatens the East Coast, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

Cooler and drier/less humid air will stick around through Friday before there's a brief return of highs in the middle 90s this weekend. Friday's forecast calls for mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies and highs in the upper 80s and lower 90s. This weekend will generally be dry, minus a low chance for rain late Sunday. High temperatures both Saturday and Sunday will be in the 90s. Next week, a combination of features in the atmosphere will play a role in a cool down for East Texas temperatures, and widespread showers and thunderstorms. First, moisture from the Pacific and the remnants of Hurricane Polo will flow into Texas from the west. A cold front will move into the state by mid-week with a trough of low pressure, the front colliding with the moisture-rich air leading to chances for rain across Texas. There is some uncertainty as to how far east the highest rainfall totals could be, but at this time, we are confident that at least some rain will make it to East Texas next week. Not only for East Texas, but for the state as a whole, this should prove beneficial towards helping to relieve some impacts from the ongoing drought.

 

Today in weather history... September 24, 2005, Hurricane Rita made landfall in southwest Louisiana. The Category 3 devastated several coastal parishes, with the worst damage seen in Cameron where >90% of several communities were swept away. At least 120 fatalities were associated with Rita. Hurricane Rita spawned an outbreak of nearly 100 tornadoes in the Southeast. A dozen twisters were significant (F2+), the strongest of which was an F3 that destroyed several buildings near Waterproof, LA. One person was killed and 23 were hurt. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

Also on today's show, we'll look at the latest updates on an early season Nor'Easter as well as El Niño and how it continues to influence Pacific tropical cyclones. Finally, our satellite imagery of the day, showing Hurricane Odalys sails the open waters of the Pacific, while Hurricane Polo and Tropical Storm Nolo threaten Mexico and Hawai’i respectively, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

 

Happy Friday, East Texas! We've made it to the end of the week. For high school football tonight, skies will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping out of the 90s and into the 80s. Light south and southeast winds are expected. This weekend will be sunny to mostly sunny and hot; highs will be in the upper 90s. Early next week, a cold front moves into East Texas. This will be a weak cold front; highs will only drop a couple of degrees, but cooler air will continue filtering into East Texas through the end of the week. We'll have a low chance for rain with the front on Monday and Tuesday, then the rest of next week looks dry.

 

Today in weather history... September 18, 2020, in an incredibly rare event, two tropical/subtropical cyclones struck Europe on the same day. Subtropical Storm Alpha, making landfall in Portugal. Cyclone Ianos, a "medicane," making landfall in Greece. 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 mice and how scientists are using them to study brain disease, and hearing how a squirrel caused a power outage for thousands this week. Finally, our satellite imagery of the day, showing cumulus clouds circulating clockwise around a high-pressure ridge situated over the Southern U.S., courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

The late-summer-into-early-fall heat persists through the end of this week, after we've just experienced our warmest first half of September on record in Tyler and our second-warmest in Longview. A cold front is expected early next week, but high temperatures will remain in the 90s even after the front passes through East Texas. That said, this cold front will still bring us a chance for showers and thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday, and possibly Wednesday as well.

 

Today in weather history... On September 16, 1928, after ravaging Puerto Rico, the "San Felipe" hurricane made landfall on Florida's East Coast as a Category 4. Lake Okeechobee overflowed, flooding surrounding communities with surge as high as 20 feet. At least 2,500 people were killed in the US. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

This week's weather word is "tofan." (Also spelled tufon, tufan.) It is a violent spring storm common in the mountains of Indonesia. This definition comes from the American Meteorological Society's Glossary of Meteorology (2026).

 

Also on today's show, we'll continue to follow up on Hurricane Helene after making nearly two years ago. Additionally, our satellite imagery of the day, from the archive, shows gravity waves and severe storms across eastern New Mexico, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

 

Above normal high temperatures remain in the forecast through the end of the week. We'll be in the middle to upper 90s up until our highly anticipated cold front arrives on Monday of next week. Chances for rain remain low-end until then, but with the cold front next week will come a higher chance for showers and thunderstorms. Of little to no concern for East Texas in the short term, the National Hurricane Center is monitoring an area for potential tropical development in the Atlantic, currently being given a 40% chance of development in the next seven days.

 

Today in weather history... On September 14-15, 1944, the Great Atlantic Hurricane pounded the Eastern Seaboard. Significant storm surge, rainfall-induced flooding, and winds over 75 mph damaged thousands of buildings in towns from the Carolinas to New England. 46 people were killed in the US. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

Also on today's show, we'll look at a cloud created by wildfires in Oklahoma and follow up on storm recovery following Helene nearly two years ago. In the absence of a show yesterday, the weekly Forecast Accuracy Report will be included today as well. Additionally, our satellite imagery of the day, showing a large low over North America pulls Pacific moisture across the Central United States, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

 

A few showers and thunderstorms will remain possible through early this evening; rain will come to an end around sunset. This weekend will be hot and sunny/mostly sunny. There are low-end chances for rain in the forecast this weekend and next week. Higher chances for rain are in the forecast towards the end of next week as a cold front moves into the area. Highs next weekend could be in the upper 80s, along with lows in the 60s.

 

Today in weather history... On September 11, 2001, Hurricane Erin was located around 500 miles southeast of New York City. A surging cold front helped to keep the storm from turning towards the mainland. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

Also on today's show, continued coverage of the late summer/early fall heat and the persistent drought. Additionally, our satellite imagery of the day (from the archive today), showing morning sunlight evaporating low clouds in the valleys of the Appalachians, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

Low-end chances for rain continue in the forecast for tomorrow and the next several days as highs remain above normal for middle to late September. Our focus, maybe excitement, remains tuned to a possible cold front and increased chances for rain late next week. There are persistent signals that around September 18, and the days that follow, highs could drop into the low 90s and upper 80s across East Texas. We did get a new drought monitor update today, and while there was significant improvement for parts of Deep East Texas, most of East Texas saw no changes. Additionally, NOAA released an updated El Niño outlook today. The odds of El Niño continuing into the winter and spring are high. This indicates we'll likely have a wetter and cooler than normal winter. Hopefully, this should help alleviate the drought situation across East Texas.

 

Today in weather history... On September 10, 1994, Hurricane John, the longest-lived tropical cyclone on record (until 2023), finally underwent an extratropical transition. The storm started as a tropical depression on August 11 and peaked as a Category 5 south of Hawaii on the 22nd to 23rd. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

Also on today's show, an update on a business that closed due to flooding during Hurricane Harvey. Additionally, our satellite imagery of the day, showing Saharan dust traversing the ocean that has contributed to below-average tropical activity during the 2026 season, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

Summer heat continues this week as highs will remain above normal through the end of the first full week of September. Low-end chances for rain are in the forecast each day through the weekend, with more rain chances also in the forecast next week. There are increasing signs that towards the end of next week we could see a significant cooldown in East Texas. Two of the long-range weather models we use in the First Alert Weather Center indicate highs could drop into the 80s around next weekend. Along with that drop in temperatures could come a rainier period of weather.

 

Today in weather history... On September 9, 1775, a devastating tropical cyclone slammed into Atlantic Canada. The hurricane sank many ships and destroyed several buildings.  An estimated 4,000 people lost their lives, making this event the deadliest natural disaster in the history of Canada. Today's daily weather history segment comes to us courtesy of the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

 

This week's weather word is "siffanto." A southwest wind of the Adriatic Sea; it is often violent. This definition comes from the American Meteorological Society's Glossary of Meteorology (2026). 

 

Also on today's show, the latest national weather headlines, an update from NOAA on Summer 2026, what newly unearthed dinosaur eggs are teaching us, and how drought is impacting beer production in Colorado. Additionally, our satellite imagery of the day, showing twelve days of Lowell’s journey across the Central Pacific Ocean, courtesy of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.