Austin woke up warm and sticky this morning, sitting around 75°F with dew points in the low 70s, which means the air never really cooled off overnight. The heat will ramp up fast, with highs near 96°F today, and we are staring down a multi-day stretch of weather that will make afternoons feel like the low triple digits.
Afternoon Heat And Winds
Highs should land in the mid-90s today and climb into the upper 90s, around 97 to 99°F, by Friday and through the weekend. Heat-index values will commonly hover near 100°F, with some spots feeling more like 103 to 106°F. South winds will generally run 5 to 15 mph in the afternoons, with gusts that may reach 25 to 35 mph and keep skies hazy at times. Forecasts from the National Weather Service also point to a Saharan-dust plume that will help keep nights on the warm side.
What This Means For You
Overnight lows will only slip into the mid to upper 70s, so do not expect much relief after sunset. If you can, plan outdoor work or workouts for the early morning or later evening hours. Keep water and shade close, check on older neighbors and young children, and skip heavy exertion during the hottest part of the day. The City of Austin keeps a list of cooling centers and heat-safety resources if you need a place to cool off, which you can find through the City of Austin.
Outdoors, Events And Travel
If you have outdoor plans this weekend, plan on it feeling hotter than the thermometer says, especially east of I-35 and in low-lying spots where the heat index tends to spike. Breezy south winds may kick up dust and can tug at lightweight canopies, so event organizers should secure gear and consider shifting activities to cooler hours. For more context on how this pattern has been building through June, take a look at our midweek steam bath recap.
For now there are no heat watches or warnings posted, but the risk is still elevated, so treat the next several afternoons like a peak summer weekend and head for cooler, shaded places if you start feeling off. If you or someone nearby shows signs of heat stroke, such as a very high temperature, confusion, or fainting, call 911 right away.
