The city of Austin is bracing for a sporadic and treacherous dance with summer showers and thunderstorms over the coming week, poised against a backdrop of blazing heat and humidity. If you've got plans to be outdoors, keep an umbrella close and stay hydrated. A report from the National Weather Service forecasts a "30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm" today, with temperatures reaching a sweltering high near 94 degrees. The heat index might make it feel like it's as high as 102 degrees. Gusts of wind could reach up to 20 mph, coming primarily from the south.
Tonight, Austin's residents should prepare for "a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers after 4am," according to the National Weather Service. The probability of rainfall stands at an unassuming 20 percent, but don't let that deceive you into forgetting your raincoat. Cloud cover is set to increase, with lows hovering around 76 degrees, while the southern southeast wind is expected to persist, sometimes gusting at the same speed as during the day.
Moving forward into Sunday, the weather pattern seems determined to maintain this erratic character, offering a slight chance of showers before 7am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. It won't do much to relieve us from the heat, though, as temperatures are predicted to climb again near 94 degrees, challenging us with another heat index potentially as oppressive as today’s. These conditions are near-identical for Monday, with a slight chance of precipitation both in the early afternoon and after 4pm, and heat still in the mid-90s.
Looking ahead to Tuesday, the weather appears to offer a brief respite from the rain with "mostly sunny" skies and a toastier high near 95 degrees. However, the calm of the morning is expected to slowly give way to southern winds that could, once again, introduce gusts as high as 20 mph. Wednesday and Thursday continue this trend of mostly sunny weather, with temperatures nudging upwards toward 96 degrees. Despite the nighttime granting some coolness with lows consistently around 75 degrees, the absence of rain doesn't seem to promise much of a reprieve from the stifling daytime heat.
For Austin residents and visitors, Friday looks to mirror the sunny disposition much like the days preceding, presenting skies "mostly sunny" with a high near 96 degrees, marking what could prove to be the close of a week's weather fluctuating between steamy sun and tentative thunderstorms. Keep a watch on the skies and be ready to adjust your plans at a moment's notice. For the latest weather updates, visit the National Weather Service website.
