Updated 915am CT – Tuesday / 19 December 2017

… Clouds and Rain Continues Today …
… Back to Sunshine by Tomorrow and Thursday …
… Cold Front Friday Morning Ushers in Cooler Air …

On the Weather Map…
On the surface map… surface high pressure is located over the southeastern USA with a weakening stationary front extending eastward from southeast Texas. A weak area of surface low pressure is over southeastern Colorado with a trough, or line, of low pressure extending south southwestward into eastern New Mexico and far southwest Texas. As a result of this surface weather pattern, our surface winds across south central Texas are southeasterly.

On the upper air map… a dynamic eastward moving upper level low is over eastern New Mexico southward into northern Mexico south southwest of El Paso. As a result of this upper air weather pattern, the 30,000 foot winds over our area are southwesterly at 75 to 85 mph.

What I am Seeing As I Look Ahead…

Rain showers and even a few thunderstorms (with an associated lightning risk) will continue across our area as the upper level low pressure storm system to our west moves eastward creating abundant and dynamic atmospheric lift. Precipitation will taper off in the wake of the system tonight with clouds decreasing before daybreak tomorrow. Current NWS/Weather Prediction Center guidance is suggesting another 1/2 to 1 inch of rain on average before the system departs to the northeast by late tonight into the predawn hours tomorrow.

Once we get into the day tomorrow as well as on Thursday, I expect more sunshine and warmer temperatures.

The manual guidance as well as the numerical forecast guidance as it continues to suggest a trend toward cooler weather and another round of rain showers on Friday as another cold front moves southeastward across the area. Temperatures will turn cooler than average Friday through Saturday with the chance of rain tapering off by late Friday.

A secondary cold front will arrive Saturday night with additional cooling of temperatures Sunday into Monday (Christmas Day). No precipitation is anticipated at this time.

Given the fact that many people will be traveling during this upcoming holiday period, you can be assured that I will be watching the forecast pattern closely for you.

Have a good Tuesday….
Meteorologist Troy Kimmel

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

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Updated 845am CT.. Tuesday / 19 December 2017

TODAY…. Cloudy with occasional rain showers and a few thunderstorms with an associated lightning risk. A 90% chance of rain; additional rainfall will average 1/2 to 1 inch with some isolated heavier totals to 2 inches. Rain chances will diminish after 4pm. High 69. Light southeasterly wind becoming more southwesterly in the afternoon.

TONIGHT…. A few evening rain showers otherwise decreasing clouds late with partly cloudy skies after midnight. Some patchy fog developing. Low 51. Westerly wind 4 to 8 mph.

WEDNESDAY…. Patchy morning fog otherwise mostly sunny and a little bit warmer. High 73. Light west northwesterly wind becoming southerly 4 to 8 mph in the afternoon.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…. Mostly clear. Low 50. South southwesterly wind 4 to 8 mph.

THURSDAY…. Patchy morning fog otherwise mostly sunny. High 75. Southerly wind 5 to 12 mph.

THURSDAY NIGHT…. Increasing clouds early becoming mostly cloudy with scattered rain showers developing after midnight. A 30% chance of rain; where it occurs, it will average 1/10th inch or less. Low 57. Southerly wind 5 to 10 mph becoming more southwesterly after midnight.

FRIDAY…. Mostly cloudy and turning a bit cooler in the wake of a morning/midday cold front. Scattered rain showers. A 40% chance of rain; where it occurs, it will average 1/4 inch or less. High 60. Southwesterly wind early becoming north northwesterly 8 to 15 mph as the cold front passes.

FRIDAY NIGHT…. Mostly cloudy with a few sprinkles early with only trace amounts expected. Low 40. Northerly wind 5 to 12 mph.

SATURDAY…. Partly cloudy. High 53. Northerly wind 5 to 10 mph.

SATURDAY NIGHT…. Partly cloudy. Low 38. Northeasterly wind becoming more north northwesterly and increasing to 8 to 15 mph.

SUNDAY /CHRISTMAS EVE/…. Partly cloudy. High 46. Northerly wind 8 to 15 mph.

SUNDAY NIGHT…. Mostly clear. Low 29. Winds diminishing to become light northeasterly wind.

MONDAY /CHRISTMAS DAY/…. Mostly sunny. High 46. Northeasterly wind 4 to 8 mph.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE / 8 TO 14 DAY OUTLOOK
Valid Tuesday / 26 December 2017 through Monday / 01 January 2018…
Temperature… Well Below Average
Precipitation… Well Above Average

AUSTIN SUNSET/SUNRISE TIMES…..
Sunrise this morning (19 December)………………………………. 7:22 am
Sunset this evening (19 December)………………………………… 5:34 pm
Sunrise tomorrow (20 December)…………………………………… 7:23 am
Sunset tomorrow (20 December)……………………………………. 5:35 pm