The city of Austin is bracing for a sweltering week ahead, with forecasts predicting soaring temperatures and a cocktail of cloudy skies and potential thunderstorms. Today, residents can expect clear skies with a high near 97 degrees, though it may feel as hot as 101 due to the heat index. Those planning to be outdoors should prepare for moderate south southeast winds blowing at 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight, the clear conditions will surrender to increasing clouds, setting the stage for a hotter Saturday with a predicted high of 99 degrees, and the heat index could make it feel more like 105 while the south winds continue to blow at a similar pace, bringing gusts that could reach up to 20 mph. As the week progresses, Austinites should keep umbrellas at the ready, given the rising chance of showers and thunderstorms beginning Sunday afternoon and intensifying by Memorial Day, when the probability of storms hits 50 percent. The typical South Texas pattern prevails with gusts of wind, which are expected to be as robust as 25 mph on Sunday and Monday nights.
The threat of rain continues into the workweek with a 60 percent chance of precipitation on Monday night, trailing off to 40 percent on Tuesday. However, temperatures will remain high, hovering around the low 90s for much of the week, per the National Weather Service's detailed predictions. The reported highs are nearly synonymous with the onset of Austin summers, reminding residents of the necessity of preparedness for both, heat and unexpected rain.
Tuesday night and Wednesday again offer chances for showers and thunderstorms, with a 40 and 50 percent chance, respectively, ensuring that unsettled weather will be the backdrop of the week's narrative; however, there's a slight decrease in likelihood again when night falls on Wednesday. Even so, throughout this period, Austin will not see much relief from the heat, with nighttime lows only dipping into the 70s, a mild reprieve at best from the day's intensity.
