As Austin swelters under a sun that seems to have forgotten it's still winter, locals are gearing up for what could potentially be the first 80-degree day of the year this Thursday. According to the National Weather Service, today's forecast promises "Sunny, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 10 mph." But, with the warmth comes a warning, the UV index is higher than normal, prompting a UV alert calling for Austinites to slather on sunscreen and don wide-brimmed hats when stepping outside.
Wednesday expects to hold onto most of those clouds before they graciously bow out, ushering in more sunshine with highs teasing the upper 70s. However, as per the National Weather Service, Thursday night might remind us that it's still February with "Mostly clear, with a low around 54. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph." Meanwhile, the devilish humidity will make its presence known, beckoning fog to roll in during the early morning hours across Central Texas.
Patchy low clouds & fog mainly east of I-35 & south of I-10 will dissipate by mid morning, leaving mostly sunny skies over South Central Texas today. Much warmer temperatures with highs in the mid 70s to mid 80s which are 10 to 15 degrees above normal for the 20th of February. pic.twitter.com/swSKIQPfQA
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) February 20, 2024
A break in the monotony of heat comes courtesy of a weak cold front expected to absolve the region of a few degrees heading into the weekend. But don't anticipate the skies to open up and pour forth much-needed rain. Instead, breezy conditions will parade in post-front, dialing up the potential for elevated to critical fire weather conditions, particularly in the Hill Country, an area already prone to wildfires. This outlook comes directly from the Hazardous Weather Outlook report for South-Central Texas.
Last but not least, looking ahead to the weekend, temperatures will dial back to the low to mid-70s, providing a brief respite from the ascending mercury. "Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon," forecasts the National Weather Service. And while we'll be tucked in by partly cloudy nights, there's a palpable thirst for rain that the forecast just isn't quenching. According to a report by KVUE, there's no precipitation expected in the next 7 to 10 days, leaving Austinites longing for a break in this premature toast to summer.
