LUBBOCK, Texas (KLBK) — Here’s your updated forecast from KLBK .’s First Alert Weather Center:

Is it hot enough for you today? Thursday marks the hottest day of the year in Lubbock. The official high is 98° at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport.

Tonight & Tonight:
Most clear conditions are forecast for tonight across the South Plains and Rolling Plains. Tonight, the temperature will be a few degrees cooler in some areas. Low temperatures tonight will range from about 50 to mid 60oC. Winds moving in a northwesterly direction at 10 to 20 mph.

Sunset tonight at 8:59 PM CDT.

Friday:
Mostly sunny to partially cloudy conditions will appear Friday across the South Plains and Rolling Plains. High daytime temperatures will be “cooler” for some locations, while others will remain hot. Highs will range from the upper 80s to the low 100s. “Cooler” highs will be in the north, while “warmer” highs will be found in the south. The wind will move northwest at 5 to 10 mph in the morning, then turn southeast in the afternoon.

The sun rises at 6:37 a.m. CDT and sets at 8:59 p.m. CDT.

Extended forecast:
Forecast models show a very small chance of a scattered thunderstorm over the Far Southeast Plains and Rolling Plains Saturday afternoon and evening. Long-range forecast models suggest another small chance for an afternoon and evening thunderstorm next week from Tuesday to Thursday. However, the chance of precipitation is very low (preferably 10 percent). For now, we will keep the expansion forecast dry. On the other hand, above-average daytime temperatures are forecast.

We note that the Hurricane Forecast Center has areas east of the South Plains and Rolling Plains outlined at “mild” (grade 2 out of 5) and “marginal” (grade 1 out of 5) for one or two o’clock Saturday afternoon with severe thunderstorms. . If one or two storms develop, it could produce large hail and gusty winds. The tornado threat is low but not zero.

Daytime highs on Friday will range from the upper 80s to the very low 100s. Mid to 90 years are forecast on Saturday and Sunday. It will get hotter next week with peaks in the upper 90 to under 100 range Monday through Wednesday. It should get a little “cooler” on Thursday with a very low mid 90s to 100s high.

Low temperatures on Friday morning will range from the mid-50s to mid-60s. Mid-60s forecast Saturday morning and lower to mid-60s Sunday morning. The morning low will be warmer next week and range from the mid-60s to mid-70s Monday through Thursday.

Summer Solstice on Wednesday, June 21:
Summer will officially hit the South Plains and Rolling Plains on Wednesday, June 21. The summer solstice will occur at 9:57 AM CDT. The summer solstice also marks the longest day of the year!

Drought Update:
We continue to see major improvements in drought conditions across the South Plains and Rolling Plains thanks to the amount of rainfall the region received during May and early June. According to the latest update by the US Drought Monitor, parts of the South Plains are now classified as “drought-free” including the City of Lubbock. On the other hand, unusually dry (D0) to moderate (D2) periods continue to be reported over other areas of the South Plains and Rolling Plains. Severe (D3) drought conditions continue to be reported across the remote southwestern plains around the Seminole region.

Lubbock climate data for Thursday, June 15:
Dawn: 6:37 AM CDT
Sunset: 8:59 PM CDT
Normal height: 92°
Normal Low: 66°
High record: 109° (1939)
Low record: 49° (1927)

Forecast your first KLBK alert:
This Evening & Tonight: Mostly clear with lows ranging from the mid-50s to mid-60s. Northwest winds 10-20 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, then becomes cloudy in the late afternoon with highs of over 80 to below 100 (“cooler” in the north and warm in the south). Northwest winds 5-10 mph, noon turning southeast.

Friday night: Partially to mostly cloudy lows in mid-60s. South wind 10-15 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy and hotter. A stray thunderstorm is possible late afternoon over the uplands of the Rolling Plains mid to upper 90. Northwest winds 10-20 mph. Occasional gusts of 25-30 mph are possible.

Meteorologist Chris Whited
KLBK Weather First Alert
cwhited@klbk13.tv
Facebook: Meteorologist Chris Whited
Twitter: @severewxchaser