Windy weather expected to continue today
Although Friday’s temperature in Breckenridge reached a high of 91 degrees, for much of the day the sun was obscured by the dusty haze that blew across the area. Today’s forecast from the National Weather Service is for sunny skies, but with the winds expected to continue, the chance for dust and smoke from wildfires could affect the air again. The high temperature is predicted to be 64 degrees.
Visibility across Breckenridge was limited Friday afternoon as a dusty, smoky haze filled the air, pushed in by strong winds from the west. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Friday morning started out with fair skies and 75 percent humidity recorded at about 7 a.m., but 12 hours later, the humidity was down to 9 percent and the sky was filled with dust and smoke. The wind stayed in the 15-25 mile-per-hour range for much of Friday, but by 8 p.m., it was at 37 mph with gusts as high as 55 mph.
Wildfires were reported in Eastland, Jones and Howard counties on Friday. The area, including Stephens County, is under a hazardous weather outlook and wind advisory, as well as elevated fire danger. The winds are expected to be high through Wednesday, and the fire danger is predicted to be high through Friday, when there’s a chance of thunderstorms.
The National Weather Service forecast, as of Saturday morning, April 14, is:
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 64. Windy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 25 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Windy, with a north northwest wind 15 to 25 mph decreasing to 5 to 15 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 69. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the evening.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 84. South wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Hubbard Creek Lake was sporting white caps Friday evening as winds in the area gusted up to 55 miles per hour. Saturday’s forecast shows winds to continue in the 15-25 mph range with gusts expected up to 45 mph. Saturday’s high temperature is supposed to be 64 degrees, almost 30 degrees lower than Friday’s high of 91. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline, top photo: The dusty haze that blew through Breckenridge Friday afternoon gave an old-fashioned sepia tone to Tony Pilkington’s color photo of the city. Although the forecast is for clear skies today, the winds are expected to be high again, so more dust and/or smoke could affect the area again. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
