Storm Troopers

It's 68 degrees in Fort Worth

Sure, it rained. But you have to agree that it really cut into the heat. It's in the high 60's in FoWo.

- Bryon Okada

History says hurricanes might skip Texas this year

Here's an interesting tidbit as another hurricane season kicks off. This comes from the Insurance Council of Texas...

"Call it odd but hurricanes have only struck Texas only on odd-numbered years for the past two decades.  It was Hurricane Humberto in 2007, Hurricane Rita in 2005, Hurricane Claudette in 2003, the costliest tropical storm on record in Texas - Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, Hurricane Bret in 1999 and Hurricanes Chantal and Jerry in 1989.  You would have to go back to 1986 for an even-numbered year to find Hurricane Bonnie.  Ever since the National Hurricane Center began naming hurricanes in 1953, only three of the 16 hurricanes to hit Texas appeared on even-numbered years."

The Insurance Council urges homeowners to make an inventory of their possessions in case they get hit by a storm. This is also a good idea for those of living in Tornado Alley. Here's two websites to help you build a list:  http://www.insurancecouncil.org/images/inventory.pdf or http://www.knowyourstuff.org/

Bill Hanna

Heavy rains possible by 2 p.m.

Storms are slowly drifting southward from Oklahoma into North Texas. Already, there are flash flood warnings in Cooke County. The National Weather Service is saying some areas could see heavy rain.

Bill Hanna

Even the low temperatures are rising

Things are continuing to heat up in North Texas.

The lowest temperature measured today at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport was 80 degrees, which breaks today’s previous highest-low record of 78, set in 1927.

Skies are supposed to stay mostly sunny throughout the weekend, with clouds moving in just in time for Memorial Day on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. 

Troy Marshall, a meteorology technician for the National Weather Service in Fort Worth, said the forecast shows mostly sunny skies Saturday and Sunday before the clouds move in Monday. Highs are expected to stay in the 90s through Memorial Day.

- Bailey Shiffler

This year's hurricane forecast

Speaking of high winds, this year's hurricane forecast calls for normal or above-normal activity. (BTW, 11 named hurricanes is average.)

- Bryon Okada

Tarrant County and area: Wind advisory

The wind advisory that was out west this morning has been expanded to include Tarrant County and the rest of the Metroplex.

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM UNTIL 8 PM FOR AREAS WEST OF A LINE FROM SHERMAN TO WACO TO LAMPASAS...

STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE ADVISORY AREA IN RESPONSE TO A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE COLORADO PLAINS.

DFW is showing southerly winds at 23 mph. Top area gusts are Grand Prairie and NAS JRB at 32 mph. In Abilene it's up to 43 mph.

- Bryon Okada

On virgae

Today's forecast called for virga, which is rain that changes from liquid to vapor as it falls. That brought to mind a wiki-passage that reads: "In some instances, these pockets of colder air can descend rapidly, creating a dry microburst which can be extremely hazardous to aviation."

That brought to mind last night's re-airing of the "Delta 191 Crash" show on the The Weather Channel. As you'll recall, a microburst was a contributing factor to that crash at DFW in 1985.

So I called up the good folks at the NWS. Basically, they said, virga is "rarely" an indicator of a microburst. Today's case was merely one of rain that evaporated before it hit the ground.

In contrast, "That was a full blown thunderstorm," Dan Huckaby said of the conditions at DFW on the day of the crash.

So there you go.

(If you caught the show, you saw our local tornado guru Alan Moller talking about microbursts, its affects on planes trying to land and the improved use of Doppler radar to give pilots better forewarning.)

{Photo credit on file is Joe Giron}

- Bryon Okada

Record high drives TCU students to the pool

We reached a record high of 99 degrees Monday afternoon, sending TCU students to the pool at the rec center.

It reached 99 at 3:55 p.m. at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, beating the record of 98 set in 2006.

Chrissy Mason, a TCU student, said the weather made her want to lie by the pool, but the hot temperature forced her to abandon her chair and catch rays from the water.

“It’s hotter than I expected,” Mason, 19, said.

Daniel Huckaby, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Fort Worth, said temperatures are going to stay higher than normal for the rest of the week, with highs in the 90s each day.

-Bailey Shiffler

It's looking more and more like a record

Just before 2 p.m. at DFW it hit 97 degrees...

- Bryon Okada

The best chance for a heat record is today

It'll be hot all week, but today is the best chance for a record.

Monday: 99 is the forecasted high. The record high is 98 degrees set in 2006.

Tuesday: 96 is the forecasted high. The record high is 98 degrees set in 1922.

Wednesday: 93 is the forecasted high. The record high is 99 degrees set in 2005.

Thursday: 93 is the forecasted high. The record high is 99 degrees set in 2005.

Friday: 92 is the forecasted high. The record high is 96 degrees set in 1996.

- Bryon Okada