Austin prepares for a tumultuous swing in weather conditions as forecasts indicate a mostly sunny Thursday before the arrival of a powerful storm system from the west coast, poised to bring severe weather late Friday night. After seeing above-average temperatures today, Austinites should be ready for heavy rain and thunderstorms that could shake up their weekend, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Today's high is expected near 71 degrees with light winds picking up momentum reaching up to 20 mph gusts, but as the night falls, clouds will increase, coupled with, a low around 56 degrees anticipated. Looking ahead to Friday, a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms is forecasted for the afternoon, following a brief spell of patchy fog in the morning. The NWS predicts the conditions will persist through Friday night, with the likelihood of showers and possibly a thunderstorm hitting a high of 100%. Winds are expected to remain strong with gusts up to 20 mph.
Local news outlet KXAN reported a "marginal" risk for severe weather for Central Texas, as the Storm Prediction Center has the region on a 1 out of 5 risk area for Friday night. It is, however, subject to change as the storm draws near. "Large hail, damaging winds and an isolated tornado do appear possible," as mentioned in a KXAN report. They also note that the inclement weather brings the potential for 1" of rain overnight, potentially affecting creek and river levels.
As our next system moves through, showers/storms will develop Friday PM. There is a level 1 of 5 risk for isolated severe storms in the evening/overnight with all severe hazards possible. There is also a level 1 of 4 risk for minor flooding, especially in already saturated areas. pic.twitter.com/gBDHjAWjwF
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) February 1, 2024
The wet conditions are expected to clear up after the storm system moves through with the weekend forecast suggesting a return to sunshine and mild temperatures. Despite the pleasant weather lined up for outdoor activities, gusty winds on Sunday may disrupt the calm, winds are forecasted to reach around 20 mph, with gusts, as high as 35 mph, effectively warranting a Wind Advisory. Residents are advised to stay updated with local meteorologists for further weather developments and behind-the-scenes coverage through their accounts.
