Austin has hit a scorching new record, marking 2023 as the city's hottest year to date. With an average temperature of 72.2 degrees, 2023 surpassed the previous record-holder, 2017, by a mere tenth of a degree, turning the historic Camp Mabry into a metaphorical frying pan, as per KVUE.
Attributing primarily to climate change caused by human activity, the climate pattern has shown Austin swimming in a sea of triple-digit temperatures. The city endured an unparalleled spate of 45 consecutive days with temperatures at or above 100 degrees, further propelling it into a state of culinary crispiness, as reported by KXAN.
Despite the severe heat, 2023 couldn't claim the title of the driest year, settling instead as the 34th driest at Camp Mabry with 26.83 inches of rainfall. In a historical context, the city's notorious 2011 ranks third for highest temperatures but keeps its crown for severe dryness. Austin's relentless battle with the elements is expected to take a cooler turn as 2024 begins, with forecasts suggesting a less fiery and wetter introduction to the new year, according to KVUE.
In a forecast that promises a respite, weather predictions for early 2024 indicate close-to-normal conditions west of I-35 and potentially wetter weather east of the highway. After a year that set the standard for heat, Central Texans might well be gripping their coats a bit tighter this January, hoping for a return to the familiar chill of winter, which traditionally averages low to mid-60s for highs and low 40s for lows, as stated by KXAN.
