Good Thursday to one and all. It’s a gorgeous stretch of fall weather rolling on here in the later half of August. Much of the month has been rather fall-like, but the next few days are the best of the bunch. While we are enjoying some of the good stuff, Harvey is about to cause big issues in the Gulf of Mexico. Can this system bring us rain next week?

Highs today are in the middle 70s for most of the region. Skies will be partly sunny, with a little more cloud cover going up this afternoon. I could see a sprinkle coming from one of those clouds.

Friday morning may find a few upper 40s showing up with afternoon highs ranging from 70 to 75. That’s WAY below normal…

Humidity levels will be bone dry, leading to a quick drop in temps for high school football games…

Temps stay in the 70s for Saturday, but may press closer to 80 by Sunday. Clouds will increase during this time as a disturbance drops in from the northwest with some showers and storms early next week.

Down in the tropics, we have Harvey in the Gulf and a system trying to develop off the southeastern coast. Harvey should become a hurricane as it heads toward the Texas coast over the next few days…

cone graphic

Harvey could become the first hurricane to make landfall in Texas since Ike back in 2008.

The models keep this spinning around the Texas coast through the weekend. Here’s the European…

That would be a disaster in terms of flooding problems down there.

The Euro then takes Harvey toward Louisiana by Monday…

You can also see that system now developing off the southeastern coast. That’s one crazy, but plausible, look.

The European then brings Harvey into the bluegrass state by the middle of next week…

Obviously, that would be a big time heavy rain maker around here. You can also see the deep trough it carves out behind it, leading to more cool air.

The GFS has a VERY similar evolution of Harvey and the overall pattern…

Cindy brought several inches of rain to our region earlier this summer. Can a much stronger Harvey do the same? It’s a possibility and one I will be keeping a very close eye on, as you guys enjoy some gorgeous fall days.

Have a great Thursday and take care.