Updated 915am CT – Thursday / 18 January 2018
… Slowly Warming Temperatures …
… Clouds Return with Some Rain Chances by Friday …
… Another Cold Front Due Sunday with A Chance of Rain …
On the Weather Map…
On the surface map… arctic high pressure is centered over the lower Mississippi Valley. As a result of this surface weather pattern, winds are light and variable.
On the upper air map… a deep trough, or line, of upper air low pressure extends southward over the eastern 2/3rds of the USA with upper air disturbances embedded within the counter clockwise flow over the western Atlantic east of Cape Hatteras with another moving eastward over west Texas. A ridge, or line, of upper air high pressure extends northeastward from southern California into western Wyoming. Another trough, or line, of low pressure is off the west coast of the USA and southwestern Canada. As a result of the upper air weather pattern, the 30,000 foot winds over our local area are west southwesterly 45 to 50 mph.
What I am Seeing As I Look Ahead…
The upper air low pressure disturbance, currently over west Texas, has resulted in a more rapid return of cloud cover from the southwest in the overnight hours than I expected earlier. By tomorrow into tomorrow night, as the system moves overhead, we may see a few sprinkles and rain showers develop. At this time, as I see it, temperatures will be far enough above freezing so I do not anticipate any problems.. however, I will continue to monitor. Rainfall amounts, during this period, will average less than 1/10th of an inch.
As the disturbance passes, we’ll see the clouds break late Friday night into Saturday with warmer temperatures.
Clouds will increase again by Saturday night into Sunday as a cold front approaches the area. At this point, I see a better chance of rainfall – rain showers and even a thunderstorm or two – by after midnight Saturday night into Sunday as the front passes by midday Sunday. Rainfall amounts, for this event, will average 1/4 inch or less.
Clouds will break with a resulting clear to partly cloudy sky Sunday night through the first half of next week. Temperatures are forecast to be near or slightly above seasonal levels.
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 / 18 January 2018
TODAY…. Mostly cloudy. High 43. Calm wind through mid morning becoming southerly 4 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
TONIGHT…. Mostly cloudy. Low 34. Light south southwesterly wind.
FRIDAY…. Mostly cloudy with a few sprinkles early and a few rain showers in the afternoon. A 20% chance of rain; where rainfall occurs, it will average 1/10th inch or less. High 50. Southerly wind 4 to 8 mph.
FRIDAY NIGHT…. Mostly cloudy with a few rain showers before midnight. Decreasing clouds after midnight. A 20% chance of rain before midnight; where rainfall occurs, it will average 1/10th inch or less. Low 44. South southeasterly wind 4 to 8 mph.
SATURDAY…. Mostly sunny and warmer. High 69. Southerly wind 5 to 10 mph.
SATURDAY NIGHT…. Becoming mostly cloudy with a few sprinkles by 3am. A 20% chance of rain; where rainfall occurs, it will average trace amounts. Low 54. Southerly wind 5 to 12 mph.
SUNDAY…. Mostly cloudy with scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms with an associated lightning risk as a cold front passes by midday. Decreasing clouds becoming partly cloudy and less humid in the afternoon. A 40% chance of rain; where rainfall occurs, it will average 1/4 inch or less. High 70. Southerly wind 5 to 12 mph shifting west northwesterly by midday.
SUNDAY NIGHT…. Mostly clear. Low 40. Northwesterly wind 5 to 10 mph.
MONDAY…. Sunshine. High 65. North northwesterly wind 5 to 10 mph.
MONDAY NIGHT…. Clear. Low 40. Light north northeasterly wind.
TUESDAY…. Sunshine. High 66. Northeasterly wind becoming easterly in the afternoon.
TUESDAY NIGHT…. Mostly clear. Low 42. Light east southeasterly wind.
WEDNESDAY…. Mostly sunny. High 68. South southeasterly wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE / 8 TO 14 DAY OUTLOOK
Valid Thursday / 25 January 2018 through Wednesday / 31 January 2018…
Temperature… Near Average
Precipitation… Above Average
AUSTIN SUNSET/SUNRISE TIMES…..
Sunrise this morning (18 January)………………………………….. 7:28 am
Sunset this evening (18 January)……………………………………. 5:56 pm
Sunrise tomorrow (19 January)………………………………………. 7:27 am
Sunset tomorrow (19 January)……………………………………….. 5:57 pm