San Antonio rolled out of bed to a steamy start today, with fog, muggy air, and low clouds hanging around as temperatures hovered near 68°F. The quiet, gray morning is not expected to last. Showers and scattered thunderstorms are on tap from the late morning into the mid-afternoon, with the most active window roughly between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Highs should top out near 76°F before a front slides east across the area.
Afternoon Storms And Small Severe Risk
Forecasters are calling for about an 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon, with brief heavy downpours possible. Where storms pass, most spots can expect new rainfall amounts mainly between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. There is a small, Marginal (level 1 of 5) severe risk late this afternoon into the evening, with isolated large hail and damaging wind gusts possible, especially as storms line up along the front. Plan for gusts up to around 20 mph where storms develop, and for most locations to stay under a half inch of total rain, according to the National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio.
Commute And Valentine’s Plans
Morning drivers get the first headache. Patchy fog is set to bring slick roads and reduced visibility, so give yourself some extra time for errands and school drop offs. Later, storms could cut into outdoor Valentine’s Day plans, with lightning and gusty winds possible during the late afternoon and early evening. Local coverage pegs the highest storm chances between about 3 and 6 p.m., so rooftop dinners and park picnics may need a backup plan. Keep your phone charged, monitor alerts if you are heading outside, and be ready to move to shelter if lightning or damaging winds move in. The Express News has a local rundown of timing and impacts: Express News.
Sunday And What’s Ahead
By Sunday, dry air takes over, bringing mostly sunny skies, a cooler morning in the 50s and an afternoon high near 78°F. From there, a warmer, drier pattern settles in next week, with afternoon highs climbing into the mid 80s by midweek and the potential for some breezy afternoons. Forecasters have also flagged elevated to near critical fire weather conditions across areas west of I 35 and I 37 Saturday afternoon and again around midday Sunday, so go easy with any outdoor burning or activities that could throw sparks in the Rio Grande Plains. Keep an eye on local forecasts and alerts through the evening in case conditions change.
