Austin is gearing up for a toasty weekend with temperatures soaring above the seasonal average, as the city will bask in the sunshine with warm air taking over the weekend forecast. According to the National Weather Service, today's expected high will flirt with 79 degrees under clear skies, with light winds turning south-based, gaining strength from 5 to 10 mph as the day progresses. Temperatures tonight are forecasted to dip to a comfortable 53 degrees with continued southern winds.
This warming trend marches into Sunday with the mercury expected to climb even higher to a high near 82, offering Austin residents an opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities under sunny conditions, despite that some may be bothered by south-southwest winds which could occasionally gust as high as 25 mph. The National Weather Service reports that this pattern of fair weather and gradually increasing heat will continue into the early part of the week with Monday's and Tuesday's highs predicted to reach the mid to upper 80s, accompanied by brisk south-southwest winds boasting gusts that could surge as high as 20 mph.
The following days, however, will mark a stark transition as a cold front rolls through on Wednesday, causing temperatures to plummet to the mid-60s, along with gusty north winds that could reach up to 30 mph. Between the forecast of KXAN, which indicates "the first of two weather changes happens Wednesday with the next cold front," the warm spell will be snapped by a chilly backhand courtesy of Mother Nature's unpredictable moods.
A pleasant day is in store with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine. Light to moderate southerly winds are expected. Edwards, Kinney and Val Verde counties may have near critical fire weather conditions. Outdoor burning is not recommended as fires could easily spread. #txwx pic.twitter.com/AnQhb2Slaq
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) February 24, 2024
Into the latter half of the week, occasional showers may sprinkle across Austin, with a slight 20 percent chance of rain on Thursday and continuing into Thursday night. The clouds hanging stubbornly in the sky, together with the northeast breeze, will ensure that temperatures remain muted, with daytime highs languishing in the mid to upper 50s. The week is then expected to wrap up on a milder note as Friday sees a morning start in the 40s before climbing to a more tepid mid to perhaps an optimistic 70 degrees in the afternoon.
