Rain chances increase on Friday and again next week

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – It’s been a rather hot and mainly dry week for most of the ArkLaTex.  Changes are coming!  Much of the area will see a good chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms on Friday.  More widespread and heavier rain will be possible early next week with cooler temperatures.

Friday temperatures: Thanks to more clouds and a better chance of rain, it will not be as hot on Friday.  Lows Friday morning will return to the 60s and lower 70s.  Daytime highs will likely be in the lower 90s, with middle 90s possible in spots.    

Rain chances on Friday increase: Any rain that has developed around the ArkLaTex on Thursday afternoon will quickly end at sunset.  We will then see a partly to mostly cloudy sky with a slight chance for a shower over the northern half of the area.  The threat of rain will increase further south during the afternoon on Friday.  Right now, it appears that the rain could be most widespread over East Texas and Northwest Louisiana during the middle of the afternoon.  This rain will end early Friday evening.  Drier weather will return for the weekend.     

Long-range outlook: It still appears that we are in line to see some heavier rain during the first half of next week.  Even the Blend of Models is now indicating that much of the area could see at least 2” of rain, with over 3” possible.  The heaviest rain will fall over the northwest half of the area.  Individual models also show decent agreement in rain potential during the next ten days, with all of the area receiving at least 1” and much heavier amounts over the north. Right now, severe weather is looking unlikely.  

Cooler temperatures are on the way next week.  After highs on Friday and this weekend in the low to middle 90s, highs will dip into the mid to upper 80s by the middle of next week and then warm slightly later in the week.  Overnight lows will eventually dip into the low to middle 60s.  It’s not quite the big taste of fall air that many have been asking for, but it’s a start.