Tuesday is starting out thick and soupy in Austin, with stations reporting temperatures near 71°F and dewpoints in the upper 60s that make the air feel downright sticky. The rest of the day trends warm, with highs near 84°F and south winds gradually kicking in. By late afternoon and evening, rain and thunderstorms start to move into the picture, so keep an umbrella handy for the commute home. Storms could be brief but still pack enough rain to slow traffic and knock down visibility.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
South winds are expected to strengthen to around 5–15 mph this afternoon with gusts near 25 mph, which will make lakes choppy and send patio furniture scooting. This fits the run of humid, showery weather we have already been dealing with, as outlined in our earlier look at Austin's swampy start to March. If you plan to be outside from mid- to late afternoon, count on breezy conditions and quick temperature shifts around any passing storm.
Evening Severe Threat
Forecasters at the National Weather Service have highlighted an elevated severe threat this evening across the southern Edwards Plateau into the western Hill Country, where large hail, damaging wind and brief tornadoes are possible. The severe risk drops as you get closer to the I-35 corridor, but a squall or weakening line of storms could still bring large hail, damaging wind gusts up to about 30 mph and pockets of heavy rain to the metro late tonight. Localized flash flooding is possible where storms repeatedly track over the same locations. Most spots are expected to pick up only a few tenths of an inch of rain, with higher totals where storms linger.
Commute And Outdoor Plans
The evening commute could run into lightning, sudden downpours and some wind-blown debris, so build in extra travel time and think about moving outdoor plans inside. Secure loose patio furniture and signage, keep phones set to receive severe-weather alerts and steer clear of driving through standing water. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport may see delays during any stronger storm cells, so check with your airline if you have late flights on the books.
Looking Ahead
The active pattern should largely wind down by Wednesday morning, with showers tapering and highs back near the low 80s. Drier and slightly cooler weather is expected Thursday into Friday. The weekend trends warmer, with readings climbing into the 80s and near 90°F by Sunday, setting up a shift from this week's humid, stormy setup to a warmer, drier stretch. We will post updates if watches or warnings are issued.
