Austin woke up Monday, February 16, 2026, to patchy fog and temperatures around 49°F, but the gray start is not sticking around for long. The murk is expected to lift by mid-morning, giving way to sunshine and an unseasonably warm afternoon with highs near 78°F and a steady warm-up that should push much of the metro into the 80s by midweek.
Foggy Morning, Sunny Afternoons
Patchy fog is the main headache for the early commute, especially in low-lying spots north of I-10, and it should clear by about 9 a.m. The NWS Austin/San Antonio is calling for mostly sunny skies and highs near 78°F today. Winds stay on the tame side, generally out of the south-southeast at 0–5 mph, so once the fog burns off, the warm-up should be quick.
A Warm Stretch Out Of Season
Temperatures climb through midweek, with much of the metro expected to land in the low-to-mid 80s by Wednesday and Thursday, while the Rio Grande Plains could sneak into the low 90s. Local reporting has flagged this run of warmth as noticeably above normal for February. The San Antonio Express-News notes that the warm pattern is stretching across broad areas of South-Central Texas.
Tuesday Gusts And A Weekend Front
Southerly winds pick up on Tuesday, with sustained speeds of 15–20 mph and gusts that could reach 25–30 mph across the Hill Country and along the I-35 corridor. Those gusts may make afternoon driving feel blustery and unpleasant for high-profile vehicles on exposed stretches of road. Forecasters are also watching a cooler front that may approach Friday or Saturday, bringing a small chance of light showers, though moisture still looks limited at this point, according to the NWS.
There are no watches or warnings in effect this morning, so it is a good day to enjoy the sun, but early commuters should give themselves extra time if heading out before 9 a.m. Later in the week, anyone with evening outdoor plans should keep an eye on updated forecasts in case that late-week front nudges the weather around.
