Austin is waking up to a classic spring soup of clouds and humidity, with temperatures near 66°F at Camp Mabry and that "walking-through-warm-linen" feel across much of the metro. The warmup continues this afternoon, with highs near 82°F and a growing chance that scattered showers and thunderstorms will crash the outdoor plans later in the day.
Today
Through the morning, only a slight chance of light rain hangs over the city, so most of the early hours stay just gray and muggy. The main show starts by mid to late afternoon, roughly between 3 and 7 p.m., when scattered showers and thunderstorms become more likely.
Southeast winds will be light, generally around 0 to 5 mph, although any stronger storm that pops up could quickly ramp things up with gusts of about 35 to 40 mph and brief, heavy downpours. Most spots will likely pick up only modest rainfall totals, but if a storm stalls or trains over the same area, it can drop a quick 1 to 3 inches in a short time.
This Weekend And Beyond
Rain and thunderstorm chances stay elevated through the weekend and into next week, so the pattern looks stuck on "soggy" for a while. The greatest concern arrives Sunday into Sunday night, then again from Tuesday through Wednesday, when more organized storms may roll through.
Forecasters at the NWS Austin/San Antonio note that those windows carry a greater potential for large hail, damaging winds, and locally heavy rainfall that could trigger flash flooding in vulnerable spots. Overnight lows should hang in the upper 60s to low 70s, while daytime highs hold in the low to mid 80s.
Flood Safety And Commutes
Austin sits in a notoriously flood-prone corridor, so repeated downpours can quickly shift from "nice rain" to urban and creek flooding, especially around low-water crossings. That is when familiar shortcuts can suddenly become dangerous.
Residents can tap into local alerts and preparedness tools through ATX Flood Safety, and should avoid driving through standing water, no matter how tempting the shortcut. During heavier bursts of rain, expect soggy commutes along I-35, MoPac, and other low-lying routes, and keep an eye on Austin-Bergstrom for possible delays during stronger storms.
What To Do
Keep weather alerts active on your phone and have a quick plan to move indoors if a thunderstorm warning is issued, since storms can deliver gusty winds and sudden drops in visibility. If you have outdoor plans this afternoon and evening, check the latest forecast and radar before heading out, and consider a solid indoor backup for weekend activities while this stormy pattern lingers.
