Austin residents experienced their 30th day of temperatures reaching 100 degrees or higher this past Friday when the thermometer at Camp Mabry hit a staggering 102 degrees, according to KXAN. But there's a slight reprieve in sight, as today's highs are expected to drop a few degrees, with most areas seeing temperatures ranging from 96 to 100 degrees, and a further decrease anticipated for tomorrow.
Relief from the oppressive heat comes with no heat advisories in effect today, a change from the recent past. While rain has been scarce this August, with Camp Mabry recording a monthly total of just 0.95 inches, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport did measure 0.29 inches of rainfall Friday. The forecast predicts less than a 10% chance of rain today, mostly to the east of Interstate 35, and a sheer 20 percent chance for showers and thunderstorms after 1 pm on Tuesday, per the National Weather Service.
Austin's weather pattern is attributed to a shift in the upper-level high-pressure system that was responsible for the recent high temperatures, now moving north and away from the area. As a result, an upper low is predicted to drift towards the Texas coast Sunday before heading across the southern part of the state. This movement will pull in moisture from the Gulf, increasing the likelihood of some rainfall in the coming days.
Looking ahead to next week, Monday's rain chances are pegged at 20% with a slight increase to 30% on Tuesday before dropping again to 20% for the remainder of the week. "Rain totals from tomorrow through Friday will average a .10″ to .33," says KXAN, indicating a week that could bring some much-needed wet weather, albeit, in modest quantities. High temperatures are expected to rise daily to the low to mid-90s, while morning lows should cool down to the low to mid-70s.
Meanwhile, over in the central Pacific, Tropical Storm Hone continues its west-northwestward trajectory at 15 mph, with sustained winds reaching up to 60 mph. The storm, currently southeast of Hawaii, is projected to intensify into a hurricane late Sunday through Monday night as it passes south of Oahu, with Tropical Storm Warnings issued for the southern coast of Hawaii.
