The city of Austin is bracing itself for a bout of stormy weather, as forecasts predict a series of significant thunderstorms possibly marauding through the region from tonight through the weekend. Austinites can expect a dicey blend of showers and thunderstorms with a 30 percent chance of occurring mainly post-1 pm today, as per the National Weather Service. The weather dance begins with areas of fog before 11 am, giving way to mostly cloudy skies, and an anticipated high near a toasty 85 degrees.
Tonight's tempests are pegged at a 20 percent likelihood, anticipated to rev down before 1 am. The city should remain mostly covered by clouds, while temperatures dip around a comfortable 70 degrees, and easterly winds could whip up gusts hitting the 20 mph mark. According to a KXAN report, the real drama may unfold later in the night, as a cluster of storms, born out in the expanses of West Texas are expected to sweep into the Hill Country by 10 PM. Forecasters warn of a low, yet existent risk of these storms achieving severity, with the potential for hefty hail, damaging winds, and a stray tornado.
The weekend won't grant any reprieve, with similar conditions carrying over into Saturday, boasting a 20 percent chance of afternoon storms, followed by a stronger 50 percent chance of nighttime showers and thunderstorms. It's the same story for Sunday, with daytime showers throwing around a 50 percent chance of turning severe, carrying threats of not only thunderous skies but also local flooding due to heavy rainfall and saturated soils, as highlighted by KXAN.
By Sunday night, the storm cycle is expected to cool off with a minimal 20 percent probability of showers, paving the way for a partly sunny Monday, though it musters a slight chance of sprinkles. The week promises to start on a blustery note with south winds of 15 to 20 mph, and potential gusts revving up to 25 mph. Come Tuesday, Austin can expect partly sunny conditions with the mercury flirting with the 90s. Throughout this turbulent stretch, some areas around Austin could accumulate an impressive 5" to 6" of rainfall – a boon for rain gauges but a bane for those caught unprepared.
