The forecast in Austin is gearing up for a quick turn, with the National Weather Service promising plenty of sunshine today, but by the weekend, a different story is set to unfold. Today's high is anticipated near 73 degrees, with calm winds shifting from west-northwest to east-southeast in the afternoon. As the sun sets, expect the skies to become mostly cloudy and the temperature to drop to around 49 with a gentle south-southwest wind, according to reports from the National Weather Service.
The city will see similar temperatures on Thursday; however, residents should be ready to grab their umbrellas by Friday. Showers are on the radar to make an appearance between noon and 3 pm, possibly escalating quickly to thunderstorms later in the afternoon. The change in weather is thanks to a large Pacific storm system expected to firmly take hold, bringing in a 90 percent chance of rain Friday night, as forecasters at the NWS have reported.
Another warm day is in store with highs in the upper 60s and lower 70s. Sunshine will be filtered through high cirrus at times. Expect increasing moisture through Friday with showers/storms Friday night into Saturday morning. Then, windy conditions develop this weekend. pic.twitter.com/LKlhL2xa6o
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) January 31, 2024
The showers are likely to persist, rolling into Saturday morning with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms before noon. The weekend won't be a washout, as forecasts anticipate mostly sunny skies by Saturday afternoon with highs near 71 degrees. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are predicted to stay in the mid to low 60s moving into early next week, with sunny and clear conditions.
Austin's recent weather patterns have largely been influenced by El Niño, delivering rain amounts that set January 2024 as the fifth wettest for the city, with Camp Mabry receiving over six inches of rain. KXAN also highlighted that despite the wetter-than-usual conditions seen this winter, the rain is expected to lighten up. Meteorologists are predicting "dry and windy weather" for the following Sunday with "seasonable temperatures for early February," KXAN reported. With the barrage of showers slated to come through, residents should keep an eye out for updated weather alerts and stay prepared for intermittent wet conditions.
