On the horizon: fall-like conditions for the Valley starting Sunday

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Lots of sunshine throughout the rest of this Friday with highs topping out in the low 90s east to upper 90s west.

Our average daytime high for this time of year is 82 degrees. By daybreak Saturday, temperatures will drop into the 60s for much of the Rio Grande Valley. Tomorrow's weather is a copy and paste of today's, with just as hot conditions. Highs in the 90s, sunny skies, and winds out of the south at 5 to 15mph.

That all changes by the time Sunday arrives, thanks to our next cold front. Impacts include strong north winds, fire danger concerns, isolated rain chances, high surf, dangerous rip currents, and a temporary drop in temperatures early next week.

The timing of the front itself will arrive in the Valley around 4 a.m. on Sunday. The strong north winds, along with the front, will gust between 20-40mph (with the strongest along the immediate coast/ barrier islands), and will be delayed by several hours, increasing around 9 10 a.m. on Sunday. A wind advisory may be needed.

Clouds begin to roll into the Valley overnight on Saturday, and as the front dives south, it could spark a few isolated rain showers. Coverage is very low (around 10%), with intensity much impressive. Many will stay dry as there is not a whole lot of moisture associated with this frontal passage.

Continuing on that thought, anticipate a huge surge of dry air as the front moves in. This will drop relative humidity into the teens and 20s. In combination with that and strong north winds, fire danger concerns will increase on Sunday and Monday. Conditions will be closely watched for the potential for a Red Flag Warning. As a reminder, Valley counties are under a county-wide burn ban.

Sunday morning won't be affected much, still falling into the mid-60s before sunrise. The afternoon, however, will only warm into the low 80s under mostly cloudy skies. Even cooler conditions for Monday (morning temps on either side of 50°, afternoon highs only in the upper 60s) and Tuesday (lows in the mid 40s, afternoon highs in the upper 70s to low 80s) of next week, but unfortunately, the cooler weather doesn't last long. By Wednesday of next week, temperatures will warm back above average with highs in the upper 80s.