Huge Warm Up Expected

Well, we are 171 days into the year 2012, and so far no 100 degree temperatures for the Brazos Valley. Yeah, that was a lot of numbers in that opening sentence, but numbers don't lie. Due to the amount of rainfall so far this year, we have avoided some extreme heat. This time last year, we already had 8 days at or over 100 degrees. So far this year....none. However, that is going to change in a hurry.

As of right now, there are two dominant high pressure systems across the lower 48. One in the east, and one out west.

Over the coming days and into the weekend, these two cells will mend together and become one brute force in the center of the country. Otherwise known as the "Ring of Fire."

The jet stream will lift so far north and not only will Texas feel the heat, but everyone up to the Dakotas. Under this high there will be a large area of sinking air. When air sinks, its dry and warms rapidly. Therefore, we will not have any rain during this period and the afternoon highs will likely reach 100 degrees starting this weekend.

At the moment, there is not a clear indication when this pattern will break, but brace for the warmest air we have seen since last summer.

Note: Slap on plenty of sunscreen, drink lots of water and make sure to take a lot of breaks in the A/C

For more news and weather you can log onto: www.facebook.com/KAGSweather or www.facebook.com/KAGSTV. You can also check out our twitter feeds: @KAGSweather and @KAGSnews. You can also download our new weather app. Search: KAGS Weather, in the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android.

Much Better Chance of Rain Tomorrow

Hello there KAGS Weather Insiders. Its been a while, but we have been busy bees here at KAGS. Latest updates are our new weather app that you can download for Android and iPhone. Search, KAGS Weather and its 100% free. Additionally, students have been coming into the weather center from CSISD all this month to learn about meteorology and television. All of the students have been great and more are coming in until the end of June.

Anyway, lets get to the forecast.

Big storms have erupted over east Texas and Louisiana this afternoon, none are severe, but have produced very heavy rainfall. That complex of storms will slowly slide into our neck of the woods tomorrow. Overall, there is a huge dome of high pressure that is dominating the east coast at this time.

Note how the wind flows clockwise around the center of high pressure. Additionally, notice how broad this high is. Due to this circulation we are receiving winds that are directed from the east and southeast. Therefore, not only is this high transporting moisture from the gulf of Mexico, but from the Atlantic Ocean as well.

Solely from the moisture content, we could have some heavy duty storms that drop a ton of rain in a short amount of time. The only other ingredient we need is something to life the air. It could be a front, or body of low pressure. Of those we have the ladder, a body of low pressure that is hugging the coastline and slowly moving southwest.

Due to this extra lift and abundance of moisture, there will be a very good chance of experiencing a few thunderstorms tomorrow with heavy downpours and possibly some small hail. Same idea goes for Wednesday, but Tuesday will be the best day to see rainfall here across the Brazos Valley.

As this low moves south, the rain goes with it as well. Therefore, by Thursday the sky will clear and temperatures will sky rocket.

Overall, expect some areas of heavy rain Tuesday and Wednesday, with a huge warm up by the end of the week. Yup, 100° temperatures are in the forecast.

New Tool To Save Property

Written By: Nabihah Akram (Meteorology Shadow)

There is a new tool that has just came out called the Storm Risk Calculator made by the city of Houston and Rice University. This tool allows residents and business owners to enter their address and learn about the risk for rainfall, power outage, rain damage, or storm surge. The user can also adjust the strength of the storm from a Category 1-5 in order to see how the risks will increase or decrease depending on the size of the hurricane. This product took five years to make with the hope that it would direct Houstonians in making better-educated decisions in the next emergency. As Robert Stein said, “The best way to get people to do something is to give them the information that they need to make an educated decision.” The goal for this product is to decrease the number of unnecessary evacuations for Houstonians and the panic that comes along with it. According to Storemski the greater Houston area is more prepared because of this project and Harris County is in store for another storm like Rita.

Hurricanes are very dangerous and you can never be too prepared. First you should make sure your house meets building code requirements for high-wind regions. Experts say that if the house meets or exceeds the certain requirements for current model building codes it has a better chance of surviving violent windstorms. For windows that would have a greater chance in surviving a wind storm, it would be best to install impact-resistant window systems.  If you are caught outside in high winds you should take cover next a nearby building, avoid elevated areas, uses handrails if possible, and so not go near railroads or train tracks. For more information about what do in high winds, hurricane home protection, other good to know things about hurricane safety visit, and the Storm Risk Calculator you can visit http://risk.rtsnets.com/.

SLOW Moving Storm = Lots of Rain Chances Here

Finally, something we have been waiting for here in the heart of the Brazos Valley.....a slow moving weather system that could bring us wet weather during a several day stretch. Typically, when we settle into the summer type pattern storms form and dump precipitation well north of us while we sit in the heat and humidity.

However, hope has arrived and the center of this slow moving storm is in northwest Texas.

The center of low pressure you see in the above image is a disturbance in the mid-levels and riding along a very slow moving front that will eventually move closer to our neck of the woods. At the moment, we are sitting in the heat and humidity as moisture continues to get pumped off the Gulf of Mexico.

Due to weak winds in the mid-levels, this low and front will crawl at a snails pace to us. Therefore, Tuesday should be a dry day, but by Wednesday clouds will increase, we will see one or two isolated storms, but when this energy finally is close enough, rain chances will sky rocket.

At the moment, the best shot at seeing any rain here will come from a period between Thursday and Saturday. We should not see any day long washouts, but any storms that do crop up will have the ability to dump very heavy rain due to the abundance of moisture in the atmosphere. Additionally, these individual storms will move quite slow due to the weak winds in the upper levels of the atmosphere. Furthermore, I will keep my eye closely on the possibility of any thunderstorms becoming severe, but know this will not be a big outbreak. Mainly thunderstorms with very heavy rain with a couple generating severe characteristics.

Though the entire event will not be over until late Saturday...here is a sneak peek at what one of the computer models are putting out for total rain from Wednesday to Sunday.



Yes, the potential is there for several inches of rain, but each day needs to be mointored closely.

For more news and weather you can log onto: www.facebook.com/KAGSweather or www.facebook.com/KAGSTV. You can also check out our twitter feeds: @KAGSweather and @KAGSnews.