I’ll be taking off Saturday/23 December 2017 through Tuesday/03 January 2018 and will not be providing updates here. In my absence, please link to the latest NWS forecast provided by the NWS/Austin-San Antonio office.
Happy holidays everyone!!
Troy
—
Updated 915am CT – Friday / 22 December 2017
… Cold Front with Rain Chances Through Tonight …
… Partly Cloudy and Cooler Temperatures over the Weekend into Next Week …
On the Weather Map…
On the surface map… a cold front, oriented northeast to southwest, is sweeping southeastward across Texas. As a result of this surface weather pattern, our surface winds across south central Texas are southwesterly shifting northerly in the wake of the front.
On the upper air map… a strong dynamic upper level low extends south southwestward over the plains states into northern Mexico. As a result of this upper air weather pattern, the 30,000 foot winds over our area are strong southwesterly.
What I am Seeing As I Look Ahead…
The strong upper air low pressure disturbance, to our immediate west, is moving eastward. As it moves across Texas, abundant atmospheric lift and instability is resulting in rain showers and thunderstorms. Current NWS/Weather Prediction Center rainfall forecasts suggests 1/4 to 3/4 inch of rainfall with the passage of this system. In the wake of the front and as the upper air low pressure disturbance moves east of the area, rain chances will decrease following by decreasing clouds by tonight into the predawn hours Saturday.
I expect partly cloudy skies with cooler temperatures through Saturday and Saturday night.
Another secondary cold front will arrive Saturday night with additional cooling of temperatures Sunday into Monday (Christmas Day) with plenty of sunshine. No precipitation is anticipated at this time.
As another low pressure area develops to our west, a more unsettled pattern will once again develop for the middle and latter part of next week with increased clouds and minimal rain chances.
Have a good Friday….
Meteorologist Troy Kimmel
Contact me:
tkimmel@austin.utexas.edu
http://www.facebook.com/troykimmel
—
Updated 845am CT.. Friday / 22 December 2017
TODAY…. Cloudy and turning cooler in the wake of a morning cold front. Occasional rain showers and a few thunderstorms with an associated lightning risk. A 70% chance of rain; where it occurs, it will average 1/4 to 3/4 inch. High 63 in the morning with temperatures falling through the 50s by afternoon. Southwesterly wind early becoming north northwesterly 8 to 15 mph as the cold front passes.
TONIGHT…. Scattered rain showers early. A 40% chance of rain; additional rainfall, where it occurs, will average less than 1/4 inch. Mostly cloudy. Low 41. Northerly wind 8 to 15 mph.
SATURDAY…. Partly cloudy. High 58. Northerly wind 8 to 15 mph.
SATURDAY NIGHT…. Partly cloudy. Low 39. Light northeasterly wind.
SUNDAY /CHRISTMAS EVE/…. Partly cloudy with a cold front passing in the morning hours. High 54. Winds becoming north northwesterly and increasing to 8 to 15 mph.
SUNDAY NIGHT…. Mostly clear. Low 31. Winds diminishing to become light northeasterly wind.
MONDAY /CHRISTMAS DAY/…. Mostly sunny. High 56. Northeasterly wind 4 to 8 mph.
MONDAY NIGHT…. Mostly clear. Low 32. Light northeasterly wind.
TUESDAY…. Partly cloudy. High 59. Easterly wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeasterly in the afternoon.
TUESDAY NIGHT…. Partly cloudy. Low 39. Light southeasterly wind.
WEDNESDAY…. Partly cloudy. High 62. Southeasterly wind 5 to 10 mph.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT…. Partly to mostly cloudy with widely scattered rain showers. A 20% chance of rain; rainfall, where it occurs, will average 1/10th inch or less. Low 48. Southeasterly wind 5 to 12 mph.
THURSDAY…. Mostly cloudy with widely scattered rain showers. A 20% chance of rain; rainfall, where it occurs, will average 1/10th inch or less. High 66. Southeasterly wind 5 to 12 mph.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE / 8 TO 14 DAY OUTLOOK
Valid Friday / 29 December 2017 through Thursday / 04 January 2018…
Temperature… Below Average
Precipitation… Above Average
AUSTIN SUNSET/SUNRISE TIMES…..
Sunrise this morning (22 December)………………………………. 7:24 am
Sunset this evening (22 December)………………………………… 5:36 pm
Sunrise tomorrow (23 December)…………………………………… 7:24 am
Sunset tomorrow (23 December)……………………………………. 5:36 pm