Austin's fickle spring weather is on display this week as sunshine takes a backseat to rain showers and storms. With today's forecast promising a partly sunny sky and temperatures around 69 degrees, residents enjoyed mild conditions typical for March. However, the National Weather Service warns of imminent weather changes. There's a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms rolling in past midnight, carrying the potential for some fog come early morning.
Thursday is set to bring more significant weather shifts, with a robust 80% probability of showers and possibly a thunderstorm throughout the day. Despite the light winds, Austinites should watch for new rainfall amounting to as much, as a quarter to a half-inch. In the mix for Thursday's turbulent sky is a low severe weather threat featuring large hail and damaging winds, though tornadoes and flooding seem distant worries. KXAN notes that "there is little to support tornadoes or flooding, but the risk cannot be completely ruled out."
Cloudy skies and cool temperatures can be expected today. Increased chances for rain and storms develop late this evening where some strong to severe storms are possible, with the main threat being large hail up to the size of quarters. Temps warm back into the 70s/80s late week. pic.twitter.com/MMq8cF246r
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) March 20, 2024
As the storm clouds part, the forecasted weather heading into the weekend offers brighter skies and warmer temperatures. Friday and Saturday are expected to be mostly sunny, with highs reaching into the mid-70s. But this respite is brief, as another storm could be brewing with potential rain impacts by the start of next week. Austin's Sunday delivers more uncertain conditions, breezy and mostly cloudy, with gusts that could escalate to 35 mph, followed by a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms post-sunset.
Looking ahead, Monday holds a 30 percent chance of storms which tapers off into a partly cloudy evening as temperatures dip to around 47 degrees. True to Texas's capricious weather patterns, Austinites can expect a return to sunny skies by Tuesday, with a high of 71 degrees, aligning with the city's springtime benchmarks. Properly pacing oneself through this weather rollercoaster, often means keeping an umbrella at arm's reach while lending an eye to the horizon's capricious whims.
