Austin is forecast to start Wednesday near 79 degrees beneath clear skies, then climb to about 99 under mostly sunny conditions. The heat index could reach 107. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible near the northern Interstate 35 corridor, but the rain chance is about 10%, and any storms are expected to fade after sunset.
Hot afternoons continue into next week
Thursday is also forecast to reach 99 degrees, with a heat index as high as 106 and an overnight low near 77. Highs are expected to stay around 99 from Friday through Sunday, with lows of 76 to 77 and light winds. Monday may bring only a slight dip, to about 98, before Tuesday's forecast offers a 31% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms and a high near 97.
Rain chances remain limited through Monday, and the National Weather Service has no watches or warnings posted for the Austin area, according to the supplied forecast. The forecast does not indicate a power outage; the heat-related risk in a separate study is relevant to a different circumstance.
Outage research and local cooling options
In a separate report, KUT described a block-by-block study that assessed older Austinites’ risk of heat-related illness during summer power outages. It found risk in 85% of single-family homes. That estimate concerns outage conditions, not this week's weather, and should not be read as a measure of current risk during the forecast.
For people seeking a place to get out of the heat, Austin Emergency Management says library branches and parks recreation centers may serve as cooling centers during regular operating hours. Locations and hours can change, so the city advises checking AustinTexas.gov/alerts for current information.
Until rain becomes more likely Tuesday, outdoor plans may require water, shade and attention to the prolonged afternoon heat.
