Austinites might want to find some shade and stay hydrated, as the heat is sticking around for the foreseeable future according to the National Weather Service. The city is set to endure another stretch of scorching temperatures, with today's high expected to hit near 99 degrees and heat index values that could tip into a daunting 106 degrees. And while there's a slight 20 percent probability of rain in the forecast after 4 pm, the mercury isn't going to give us much of a break, with the forecast through the week predicting highs in the mid to upper 90s.
The situation tonight promises some relief with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10 pm, as per the NWS forecast. The evening temperature is anticipated to dip to around 74 degrees, with calm wind conditions prevailing. The coming days continue with sunny conditions, and the heat index consistently floats above the century mark, signaling a dry and hot workweek ahead. Some isolated thunderstorms are possible in the afternoon hours, with a weak cold front nudging its way from the northeast, interacting with existing moisture to bring the potential for light rain.
KXAN reveals that despite the heat, Austin's not looking at widespread significant rainfall. "Most rain measurements will be less than .05″ but a few isolated areas could receive more," the forecast reports. Indeed, after the rain fades this evening, there's a break in rainfall until toward the end of the week, where there's a meager 10 percent chance on Friday night, increasing slightly to 20 percent on Saturday.
Looking further ahead, a drier- and warmer-than-normal pattern is expected to envelop the area from September 22nd to 28th, resulting in days that continue to simmer hotter than what's typical for the time of year. However, normal temperatures will decline slightly from 90° on the 22nd to 88° on the 28th, with nighttime lows resting in the more bearable upper 60s. Such a pattern might just have locals wishing for an early reprieve from the relentless Texas heat.
