AUSTIN, Texas — We’re off to a warm start this week in Central Texas, but temperature will gradually cool past the middle of the week, laregly due to widespread shows and thunderstorms.
Here’s what we’re tracking.
Wash of rain for Central Texas this week
This week’s weather will become more active each day as widespread moisture tracks in from northern Mexico on Thursday and Friday.
Cloudy on Wednesday
Noticeable changes to the weather pattern will begin on Wednesday. South and easterly winds will pump moisture into Central Texas, and clouds will become widespread starting in the morning.
Drizzle in the morning and scattered showers throughout the afternoon will be possible. Temperatures will be a bit cooler than Tuesday but still unseasonably warm, with highs near 85 degrees.
As a deep trough of moisture moves east across South Texas late Wednesday, our first round of rain and storms in Central Texas could start as early as 12 a.m. on Thursday. Throughout Thursday and Friday, rain and storm chances will be on-and-off.
It is also possible a few isolated strong-severe storms will be sparked in Central Texas during this 48-hour timeframe. The bulk of this moisture will move east of Austin in the late evening Friday, with skies clear throughout Saturday.
Rains will cool off our afternoons Thursday and Friday, with high temperatures ranging through the 70s.
Rainfall totals are expected to favor neighborhoods south and east of the Austin metro. While the European and American models still differ in areas, we are expecting widespread coverage of about quarter-inch to half-inch of rain and isolated totals from 1 to 2 inches.
On Thursday, there will be a chance for strong to severe storms for far southern portions of the Interstate 35 corridor and the Hill Country. This will be a level 1 out of 5, or “marginal,” risk.
Because Central Texas has been under severe and extensive drought conditions for the past few months, there will also be a minor risk for minor flooding. This will be another “marginal” risk, level 1 out of 4.
Expect the possibility of swelled creeks and rivers and ponding on the roadways.
This rainfall event should be generally beneficial for Central Texas as we try to recover from drought. This article will be updated throughout the week as new information becomes available.
In the meantime, here is your 7-day forecast.
