Updated 915am CT – Thursday / 23 February 2017

… A Dry and Stable Weather Pattern …
… Another Dry Cold Frontal Passage Tomorrow …
… Another Low Pressure Area/Cold Frontal Passage by Mid Part of Next Week …

On this Thursday… weak high pressure is over the southeastern USA and the Gulf of Mexico with a trough, or line, of surface low pressure from western Oklahoma south southwestward through southwest Texas. As a result, our surface winds across south central Texas are southerly.

In the upper levels of the atmosphere.. a ridge, or line, of upper air high pressure from the western Gulf of Mexico northward through the lower Mississippi Valley. Another strong upper level low pressure storm system is situated over the Great Salt Lake valley with a trough.. or line.. of upper level low pressure extending southward into the southwestern USA. Our upper level winds, at about 30,000 feet overhead, are westerly at 70 to 80 mph.

Another day.. more sunshine as a dry and stable weather pattern continues over the area. Temperatures, with the drier air mass in place, will continue to be well above seasonal averages.

Another quick moving cold front.. this one actually accompanied by a little cooler air.. will move through the area by mid to late morning tomorrow. Low level moisture return ahead of the front will be minimal so I do not anticipate rainfall or even much cloudiness with the front. Temperatures will cool just a bit with abundant sunshine Friday afternoon and Friday night into Saturday.

After tomorrow, our next cold front appears to hold off until the middle part of next week. As I’ve mentioned the last few days, as a result of the system being slowed a bit, I think we’ll see a better moisture return to the area which should result in better rain chances when the front arrives and swiftly moves southeast of the area on Wednesday.

Have a good Thursday….
Meteorologist Troy Kimmel

Contact me:
tkimmel@austin.utexas.edu
http://www.facebook.com/troykimmel

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Updated 845am CT.. Thursday / 23 February 2017

TODAY…. Sunshine. High 89. Southerly wind 5 to 12 mph.

TONIGHT…. Becoming partly cloudy. Low 58. Southerly wind 4 to 8 mph becoming more southwesterly after midnight.

FRIDAY…. Mostly sunny. Turning a little cooler by afternoon as a cold front passes in the mid and late morning hours. High 83. Southwesterly wind shifting northerly 5 to 10 mph.

FRIDAY NIGHT…. Mostly clear. Low 44. Northerly wind 4 to 8 mph becoming north northeasterly after midnight.

SATURDAY…. Sunshine. High 66. North northeasterly wind 4 to 8 mph becoming east northeasterly by late afternoon.

SATURDAY NIGHT…. Becoming partly cloudy. Low 44. Easterly wind becoming south southeasterly wind 5 to 10 mph.

SUNDAY…. Partly cloudy. High 75. Southerly wind 5 to 12 mph.

SUNDAY NIGHT…. Partly cloudy early with a low overcast developing late. Low 57. South southeasterly winds 5 to 10 mph.

MONDAY…. Morning low clouds and patchy morning drizzle otherwise partly cloudy. High 79. Southerly wind 5 to 12 mph.

MONDAY NIGHT…. Partly cloudy early with a low overcast developing late. Low 64. South southeasterly winds 5 to 10 mph.

TUESDAY…. Morning low clouds and patchy morning drizzle otherwise partly cloudy. High 82. Southerly wind 5 to 12 mph.

TUESDAY NIGHT…. Partly cloudy early with a low overcast developing late. Widely scattered rain showers and thunderstorms with a lightning risk after midnight. A 20% chance of rain; where rainfall occurs, it will average 1/4 inch or less. Low 63. South southeasterly winds 5 to 10 mph becoming more south southwesterly after midnight.

WEDNESDAY…. Partly to mostly cloudy in the morning with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms as a cold front passes in the mid to late morning hours. A 30% chance of rain; where rainfall occurs, it will average 1/4 inch. Becoming sunny, less humid and a little cooler in the afternoon. High 72. South southwesterly wind early shifting north northwesterly 5 to 12 mph.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE / 8 TO 14 DAY OUTLOOK
Valid Thursday / 02 March 2017 through Wednesday / 08 March 2017…
Temperature… Above Average
Precipitation… Near Average

AUSTIN SUNSET/SUNRISE TIMES…..
Sunrise this morning (23 Feb)……………………………………………. 7:03 am
Sunset this evening (23 Feb)……………………………………………… 6:26 pm
Sunrise tomorrow (24 Feb)………………………………………………… 7:03 am
Sunset tomorrow (24 Feb)…………………………………………………. 6:26 pm