Austin residents can expect a hot and hazy week ahead as a plume of Saharan dust affects the Central Texas area. According to the National Weather Service, hazy conditions will persist today with sunny skies and high temperatures approaching 98°F. This haze is accompanied by a heat index climbing as high as 104°F. The evening will bring some cloud cover and slightly lower temperatures around 74°F.
The haze is due to a sizable influx of dust from the Saharan Desert, which is impacting air quality across the region. Those particularly at risk include the very young, the elderly, and individuals with preexisting respiratory or heart issues. KXAN reports that the dust "will be present again tomorrow but will thin in the days following." Residents might want to take precautionary measures and stay indoors when possible to avoid the dust's adverse effects.
Temperatures are on a steady climb toward the century mark, with the National Weather Service predicting afternoon highs at or above 100°F from Friday through the weekend. Though a high-pressure system has been controlling the weather scene, it's expected that by the weekend it will shift toward the western states. As a result, this could present a slight chance for rainfall come Sunday and Monday, although forecasters see this probability as slim at the moment.
Looking forward, the high temperatures and sunny skies are predicted to remain consistent, with heat index values consistently on the upper tiers. While some relief may be in sight with the potential for a few scattered showers and thunderstorms at the start of next week, Austin citizens should prepare for the sustained heat and haze this week. The drop in air quality along with the oppressive heat underscores the advice for caution particularly among vulnerable groups throughout these toasty summer days.
