Updated 915am CT – Wednesday / 20 December 2017

… Return to Sunshine Through Tomorrow …
… Cold Front with Rain Chances Friday into Friday Night …
… Partly Cloudy and Progressively Colder Temperatures over the Weekend …

On the Weather Map…
On the surface map… a surface low pressure is located over Louisiana/Arkansas border north of Monroe, La. A cold front extends from the low into southwestern Louisiana and into the extreme northwestern Gulf of Mexico just off the Texas coast. Eastward from the low pressure area, a stationary front extends through central Mississippi and northern Alabama into northern Georgia. As a result of this surface weather pattern, our surface winds across south central Texas are light westerly.

On the upper air map… a weakening eastward moving upper level low is over northeastern Arkansas while a stronger upper level low is over eastern Washington with a trough, or line, of upper level low pressure extending southwestward to off the central and northern California coast. As a result of this upper air weather pattern, the 30,000 foot winds over our area are southwesterly at 90 to 100 mph.

What I am Seeing As I Look Ahead…

I expect more sunshine and warmer temperatures today into tomorrow as the atmosphere stabilizes a bit in the wake of yesterday’s upper air low pressure disturbance.

Guidance is in agreement now that the strong upper air low pressure disturbance now over the Pacific Northwest will move eastward through the central plains by Friday into Friday night with another round of rain showers and thunderstorms expected. Current NWS/Weather Prediction Center rainfall forecasts suggest another 1/4 to 3/4 inch of rainfall with the system. In the wake of the front and as the upper air low pressure disturbance moves east of the area, rain chances will decrease by Friday night.

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.

Overall, I expect the skies to become partly cloudy with temperatures turning progressively cooler Friday through Saturday continuing through early next week including the Christmas Day period.

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 Wednesday….
Meteorologist Troy Kimmel

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

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Updated 845am CT.. Wednesday / 20 December 2017

TODAY…. 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.

TONIGHT…. 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…. Cloudy and turning a bit cooler in the wake of a morning/midday cold front. Scattered rain showers and a few thunderstorms with an associated lightning risk. A 50% chance of rain; where it occurs, it will average 1/4 inch. 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 54. 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 48. 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.

MONDAY NIGHT…. Mostly clear. Low 29. Light northeasterly wind.

TUESDAY…. Partly cloudy. High 50. Easterly wind 5 to 10 mph.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE / 8 TO 14 DAY OUTLOOK
Valid Wednesday / 27 December 2017 through Tuesday / 02 January 2018…
Temperature… Below Average
Precipitation… Above Average

AUSTIN SUNSET/SUNRISE TIMES…..
Sunrise this morning (20 December)………………………………. 7:23 am
Sunset this evening (20 December)………………………………… 5:35 pm
Sunrise tomorrow (21 December)…………………………………… 7:23 am
Sunset tomorrow (21 December)……………………………………. 5:35 pm