Rainfall to fade before Fourth

Expect a scorcher this weekend.

Although scattered showers threaten to dampen parts of Brownsville again today, the skies will likely clear in time for the Fourth of July, according to the National Weather Service.

And Saturday's Independence Day celebrations will arrive with above-average temperatures. Saturday's high could top 97 degrees with a heat index of 110 degrees in Brownsville.

Saturday's blast of hot weather might just be the beginning. Record highs will threaten Brownsville and Harlingen Sunday through Tuesday.

"We're expecting sea breeze showers (again) Friday, but it looks like most of the shower activity will end by the Fourth of July," NWS meteorologist Jason Straub said.

Today's rainfall will likely be similar to Thursday's levels. "Scattered showers over an area will be about a half an inch at the most," Straub said.

Thursday, radar estimates indicated that areas of showers in Cameron County received between one-fourth to one-half inches of rainfall, with some areas getting even less.

Thunderstorms are also possible today, but the National Weather Service does not expect the sea breeze showers to cause any extreme weather or flooding.

Sea breeze showers occur when areas of land warm faster than the Gulf of Mexico, creating a miniature cold front, Straub said.

"This sea breeze front will move inland during the day and create a focus for showers and thunderstorms," he said. "Brownsville and Harlingen will have the bigger risk (for scattered showers), but it's not out of the question for rains to reach into McAllen and maybe into Rio Grande City."

Atmospheric high pressure locked over Central Texas has trapped heat over the entire state. This has created both the potential for Thursday's and today's sea breeze showers and the weekend's scorching temperatures.

The high-pressure area will continue for at least the next week, fueling summer heat.

"It looks like most of the Fourth of July should be sunny, with a few clouds in the afternoon during the peak heating time," Straub said. "But for the most part, it should be sunny."