Weather

Gulf of Mexico remains quiet but things are heating up in the Atlantic. We now have our 5th named storm of the season, Tropical Storm Ernesto. It is forecast to move over Puerto Rico as a tropical storm early Wednesday & become a hurricane by early Thursday. The good news for the US is that it will make a sharp turn to the NW & then north, keeping it away from the Gulf of Mexico and US east coast. It is expected to get closer to Bermuda late week as a category 2 hurricane.

Heat Advisory has been extended until 7pm Tuesday evening and will include the entire area Tuesday. Look for heat index values up to 112 which makes it difficult to be outside for long periods of time. Try to stay in the shade and drink lots of water if you must be outside. Make sure kids are being extra careful in the heat for after school practices. More heat advisories will likely be needed later this week. Temperatures stay near 100 and there will only be a few downpours to cool us off. Tropical Storm Ernesto has formed in the western Atlantic with 40 mph winds. Ernesto is forecast to become a hurricane by Thursday. It should turn north and away from the United States but will be a threat for Puerto Rico and Bermuda.

Staying powered up during a storm is crucial. Meteorologist John Dawson reviews the Biolite Base Charge 1500 + which is a powerful, portable station perfect for keeping your essentials running when the lights go out.

It's been nearly two decades since hurricanes last tested the Gulf Coast. Are we ready for another round?

Welcome back to school for tens of thousands of students across our area this week - it is going to be a hot one with high temperatures ranging from about 95-99 and morning bus stop temperatures near 80. Today, Tuesday and Wednesday will bring a chance for scattered storms for the late afternoon and early evening, so keep that in mind for after school practices. In the tropics, we are getting into the historically busy time of the year and we will be watching a developing system (likely Ernesto) this week that may become an intense hurricane late in the week. The system is not likely to have a direct impact on the United States and will stay far away from the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center has upgraded Invest 98L to Potential Tropical Cyclone FIVE. The current forecast has FIVE becoming a tropical storm on Monday and a hurricane by Wednesday. The next name on the list is Ernesto.

We have another hot and humid day ahead in SE Texas. Highs will soar to the upper-90s with feels like temperatures in the triple digits. Take it easy and drink plenty of water. As most students start school this week in Houston, it will be hot across the board. There is the chance for an isolated shower on Monday, but overall coverage remains low. A tropical wave in the Atlantic has a HIGH chance for development this week. We could see ?Ernesto? form. Stay up to date in the tropics by watching out daily Tropical Update at 4pm on FOX Local.

When we have a hurricane such as Hurricane Beryl, the lights are at risk of going out anytime. Meteorologist John Dawson shares the Xfinity X1 Hybrid Power Flashlight which is a necessity for your hurricane preparation!

It's a hot weekend in Houston! Look for temperatures to park themselves in the upper 90s Sunday afternoon and most of the up coming week. There will be isolated chances for showers or thunderstorms but overall coverage will be low. Feels Like Temperatures will be in the triple digits so remember your heat safety as you are working and playing outdoors.

Invest 98L is located midway between the Cabo Verde Islands and the Less Antilles. Showers and Thunderstorms continue to increase with this tropical wave and gradual development of this system is expected during the next several days.

A hot weekend is on tap for SE Texas. Forecast highs will soar to the upper-90s with feels like temperatures in the triple digits. There is a Heat Advisory in effect for counties south of Houston. A few showers are possible this evening south of I-10, but overall coverage remains low. An area of disturbed weather in the Atlantic has a HIGH chance for development next week. Ernesto will be the name of the next tropical storm/ hurricane.

Excessive Heat Warning remains in effect for Houston until 8pm this evening with a Heat Advisory through 9pm Saturday. Heat index values could be as high as 118 this evening and as high as 110 Saturday PM. A few storms will continue, mainly west of Houston along a weak front this evening. Heavy rain, lightning and gusts near 40 mph are possible but severe weather is not expected. Disturbance in central Atlantic has a MEDIUM 60% chance for development over the next week as it gets close to the NE Caribbean. Ernesto would be the name of our next tropical storm or hurricane.

Debby is now a Post-Tropical cyclone bringing heavy rain and the threat for flooding and a few tornadoes to parts of the northeast U.S. Debby will push into Canada by tomorrow and weather conditions should improve. Another tropical wave is being monitored in the East-Central Atlantic. Development potential gets higher through next week with a MEDIUM 60% chance for another tropical depression, tropical storm or hurricane. Ernesto is the next name on the list.

The heat is still ON! Another Heat Advisory is in effect for the Houston-area until 9 p.m. And multiple states are cleaning up after the impacts of Tropical Storm Debby.