Austin residents should be ready for a rollicking weather ride ahead. The National Weather Service forecasts "a chance of showers and thunderstorms" kicking off this afternoon and going strong until past midnight. Temperatures won't stray too far from the mid-70s today, though, with the possibility of a quarter to half an inch of rain expected to fall. But come nighttime, a "90% chance of precipitation" suggests that residents are in for a wet and wild evening, with up to three-quarters of an inch extra rainfall on tap.

The stormy conditions carry a sting in their tail, as KXAN reports an unsettling "low risk of severe storms" for all counties tonight. Large hail, gusty winds, and even a "low-end tornado threat" are in the cards. While most areas will experience a moderate deluge of 0.5" to 1.5", some unlucky spots might suffer localized flooding with a shot of 2-3" downpours. KXAN adds a practical note for the waterlogged weekend warriors, "Remember, 'turn around, don’t drown!'"

Come Sunday, the tempest seems set to take a breather, leaving behind a cooler disposition with "mostly cloudy" skies and highs buoying in the 60s, a sizable dip from the storm's peak. With winds still catching breath at around 15 mph, according to the National Weather Service, the weather will play a gentler tune of a "partly cloudy" night and a subdued low around 49.

The weather's mercurial dance doesn't end there though; next week promises a warm-up back into the easy 80s. With the azure skies mostly "sunny," conditions seem ripe for outdoor plans. However, as the week stretches on, that 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms by Friday suggests the weather gods may yet have an encore performance in store.