Austin woke up in a steam bath on Monday, with temperatures stuck in the upper 70s and dewpoints in the mid-70s, making it feel warmer than the numbers suggest. The afternoon will not bring much relief: look for a high near 90°F today, along with a late-morning to early-afternoon window for showers or a few thunderstorms. South winds will bump up a bit with occasional gusts in exposed areas, but the bigger storyline is the heat that steadily ramps up through the week.
Afternoon Storm Window
The best chance for showers and thunderstorms lines up between about 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., with only a slight chance lingering into the mid-afternoon. Coverage should stay widely scattered, and most spots that see rain will likely pick up less than a tenth of an inch. Still, any storm cell that pops could briefly dump heavy rain and kick out gusts up to 25 mph. There are no watches or warnings posted this morning, so if you have outdoor plans, just keep an eye on the radar rather than canceling. According to the National Weather Service, precipitation chances sit around 20–30% across the metro today.
Heat Through The Week
After today, the heat takes over. Highs climb into the low to mid-90s on Tuesday and Wednesday, then push into the mid-90s to upper-90s by the weekend. With humidity hanging around, heat index values are expected to land in the 100–105°F range for many neighborhoods through the work week. If you can, shift outdoor errands, workouts, or yard work to early morning or evening and drink plenty of water. Parks and Austin Public Library branches operate as cooling centers during their normal hours. The City of Austin has details on cooling-center locations and heat-safety tips.
Commute And Outdoor Plans
Any midday downpours could briefly cut visibility and leave behind standing water in low-lying spots, so plan a little extra time if you will be on the roads during the storm window. Outside of that, most days this week look dry and hot, with south-southeast winds around 5–10 mph and occasional gusts when storms manage to fire. There are no heat advisories in effect yet, but older adults, young children, and pets are still vulnerable in the afternoon heat and should get shade, water, and breaks from the sun. Keep your devices charged and have a backup plan for outdoor activities in case a pop-up storm or the oppressive heat forces you to pivot.
