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We wrap up this steamy week with more low and mid 90s that’ll feel even hotter thanks to high humidity, and a slim 20% chance brief relief showers. Rain chances improve a bit to kickoff the holiday weekend then drop as high heat and Gustav takes the headlines for Labor Day.

Flooding rains hit the Rio Grande overnight with a record 2.36″ and counting in Del Rio (radar) producing reports of water-covered streets.

We’ll see extra clouds in our skies as a result of this moisture, and a slightly better 30% rain chance tonight and tomorrow here at home.

Football Forecast… We’ll offer a 20% rain chance though showers should be ending around gametime tomorrow as the Longhorns take on the Owls. Kickoff temps near 90 will drop to the upper and mid 80s by the end of the game.

As drier air from the west eradicates some of our moisture by Sunday and as high pressure builds over Texas, less rain is forecast Sunday and Monday. In response, temps will rise into the high 90s for the holiday Monday and may even grace the 100 degree mark early next week.

Gustav Update… Currently raining over Jamaica, Tropical Storm Gustav looks much larger on satellite this morning. Hurricane hunters report that, as of 6am, sustained winds are at 65mph with gusts to 75mph as the storm moves WNW at 8mph. Once the center of Gustav moves back into the open water, rapid intensification is expected. The official forecast carries Gustav through the Yucatan Channel this weekend then into the open Gulf as a cat 3 hurricane with winds nearing 125mph. A possible landfall Tuesday most likely along the Louisiana coast line as of this morning, though computer models show a range from the Panhandle of Florida to the middle Texas coast as suspect. Stay with us for updates!

Shameless Plug… Support your favorite news team by voting in the Austin Chronicle’s “Best Of 2008″ by going to http://austinchronicle.com/bestof by next Tuesday. Tell your friends, neighbors, and colleagues to do the same — we thank you in advance!!

Enjoy your Friday and have a fantastic, safe holiday weekend.

Meteorologist
Burton Fitzsimmons

Leftover moisture from once Tropical Storm Julio in Mexico floats our way from the west today (satellite loop,) adding a few more clouds in the sky and continuing our 20% afternoon rain chance. But it’s another storm named Gustav that’ll likely have much more impact along the Gulf coast next week…

It’ll feel like 100 around 4pm today as temps rise at least into the mid 90s in the city. Showers and storms will be limited and rather hit-or-miss today, forming mostly west and southwest of Austin as it looks now. Look for similar weather Friday.

Holiday Weekend Outlook… A weak cold front eases south into the I-20 corridor Saturday all while the upper-air weakness from Julio lingers overhead, prompting a higher 30% rain chance to start the weekend. Temps in the low and mid 90s. High pressure begins to dominate Sunday with mid 90s and a lower 20% rain chance. The Gulf breeze cuts off Monday, allowing a hotter, drier day to mean some near 100s for the holiday itself!

Football Forecast… A slim 20% chance for a brief shower looms at the 6pm kickoff this Saturday as the Longhorns battle the Owls. Temps near 90 at the start of the game will drop through the upper to mid 80s by the end.

Gustav Update… TS Gustav pulled a surprise on hurricane hunters overnight: the storm redeveloped further southwest than it was yesterday. Now over open water, Gustav’s rapidly intensifying. As of 2pm, sustained winds at 70mph with gusts to 85mph come as the storm moves west at 5pm. The southern coast of Jamaica (radar) is now under a Hurricane Warning and will feel the brunt force of winds and rain today, then the storm will be south of Cuba and growing in the open Caribbean through the end of the week. Official forecasts increase Gustav to cat 2 status by the weekend, possibly up to cat 3 (winds nearing 115mph) by Monday night as the storm nears the Gulf coast. As of today, landfall looks most likely between Brownsville and Daytona — in other words, we don’t know yet!

Next Week… For now, we suspect we’ll be on the dry side of Gustav, so the Gulf flow cuts off and we expect drier, hotter air as a result. Some may touch 100 next week. But don’t let your guard down, this could all change between now and then. Check back for updates.

Enjoy your Thursday.

Meteorologist
Burton Fitzsimmons