According to Andy Andersen, chief meteorologist with KCEN-TV, rain accumulations could be small.
“It’s hard to say how much (rain to expect),” he said. “It does not look like a lot. A quarter or a half inch might be generous.”
He said the rain could begin this afternoon, but better chances for rain are tonight and Wednesday.
He said there would likely be about a 20 percent chance of rain today and 40 percent chance tonight.
Andersen said that, locally, tornadoes or hail are unlikely, but lightning and thunder could accompany rainstorms.
The few days of cloud cover and rain could provide temporary relief from the 100-degree temperatures being recorded in the area, he said.
The forecast calls for temperatures topping out at 98 today and 97 on Wednesday and Thursday. Triple-digit temperatures are forecast to return to the area Friday.
Andersen said the high temperatures are due to a high-pressure ridge sitting over the area and stretching all the way to the Mississippi valley. The dense air tends to be dry, heats up faster during the day and inhibits cloud formation.
Meanwhile, the electric grid operator for most of the state is asking residents and businesses to reduce afternoon electricity use because of the extreme heat, the reported.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas and the Public Utility Commission urged Texans to reduce their electricity use today during peak electricity hours from 3 to 7 p.m.
Kent Saathoff, ERCOT vice president of system operations, says no electricity emergencies are expected, but that the grid operator will be monitoring the situation closely.
Residents and businesses are asked to set thermostats at 80 degrees or higher, to cool with fans and to close blinds and turn off unnecessary lights and appliances, according to AP.
