Updated 915am CT – Friday / 13 April 2018
… Slim Rain Chances Today into Tonight with Passing Cold Front …
… Clearing with Cooler Temperatures for the Weekend …
… Overall, A Dry Seven Day Forecast ….
On the Weather Map…
On the surface map… a deepening surface low pressure area is over north central and northeast Kansas with a cold front extending west southwestward through southeastern Colorado into northwest New Mexico and central Arizona. A dry line.. separating drier continental tropical air (think hot and dry) to the west from maritime tropical air (warm and humid) to the east.. extends from the surface low southward into western Oklahoma into southwest Texas east of the Texas Big Bend.
Surface high pressure is well to the east over the Atlantic Ocean off the eastern USA seaboard. As a result of this surface weather pattern, our surface winds are southerly.
On the upper air map… a deep dynamic trough, or line, of upper level low pressure extends southward from Montana into New Mexico. As result of the upper air weather pattern, the 30,000 foot winds over our local area are southwesterly 60 to 70 mph.
What I am Seeing As I Look Ahead…
Surface high pressure continues well east of the area with southerly winds prevailing. Late night and early morning low clouds are present over the area as a result of abundant moisture return off of the Gulf of Mexico.
By later today into tonight, the well developed upper level low pressure storm system to our west and the associated cold front, to our distant northwest, will cross Texas and the central USA with increased rain and thunderstorm chances mainly in areas to our north, northeast and east. The rain chances peak later this afternoon into tonight as the system passes.
Abundant sunshine with cooler temperatures will prevail for our weekend. The dry weather pattern will continue through much of next week with temperatures warming a bit. Our next cold front, after the one tonight into early tomorrow, will move through the area by the end of next week into the following weekend.
Over the next seven days, NWS/Weather Prediction Center guidance suggests rainfall locally will average 1/4 inch or less. The NWS/Storm Prediction Center has outlooked areas to our northeast over northeast Texas and the overall ArkLaTex region for the possibility of severe thunderstorms today into tonight. A few of those stronger thunderstorms may occur later today into tonight along and east of the IH35 corridor counties and into areas to our distant east and northeast.
Have a good Friday..
Meteorologist Troy Kimmel
Contact me:
tkimmel@austin.utexas.edu
http://www.facebook.com/troykimmel
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Updated 845am CT… Friday / 13 April 2018
TODAY…. Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the mid and late afternoon, with an associated lightning risk mainly in areas east of the IH35 corridor. A 30% chance of rain; where rainfall occurs, it will average 1/4 inch or less. High 85. Southerly wind 8 to 15 mph with some higher gusts.
TONIGHT…. Mostly cloudy with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms with an associated lightning risk, mainly in areas east of the IH35 corridor, as a cold front passes by mid to late evening. A 30% chance of rain; where rainfall occurs, it will average 1/4 inch or less. Cooler with clouds decreasing late. Low 54. Southerly wind 8 to 15 mph with some higher gusts shifting north northwesterly.
SATURDAY…. A few clouds early, otherwise sunshine and cooler. High 70. Northerly wind 8 to 15 mph with higher gusts.
SATURDAY NIGHT…. Clear. Low 44. Northerly wind decreasing to 5 to 12 mph.
SUNDAY…. Sunshine. High 74. North northeasterly wind 5 to 10 mph.
SUNDAY NIGHT…. Mostly clear. Low 47. Light easterly wind.
MONDAY…. Mostly sunny. High 79. Light wind becoming south southeasterly wind 4 to 8 mph.
MONDAY NIGHT…. Mostly clear. Low 55. Southeasterly wind 5 to 12 mph.
TUESDAY…. Mostly sunny. High 82. South southeasterly wind increasing to 8 to 15 mph.
TUESDAY NIGHT…. Partly cloudy early with low clouds late. Low 60. Southeasterly wind 5 to 12 mph.
WEDNESDAY…. Morning low clouds otherwise partly cloudy. High 84. South southeasterly wind 8 to 15 mph.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT…. Partly cloudy early with low clouds late. Low 62. Southeasterly wind 8 to 15 mph.
THURSDAY…. Morning low clouds otherwise partly cloudy. High 84. South southeasterly wind 8 to 15 mph.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE / 8 TO 14 DAY OUTLOOK
Valid Friday / 20 April 2018 through Thursday / 26 April 2018…
Temperatures… Above Average
Precipitation… Near to Slightly Above Average
AUSTIN SUNSET/SUNRISE TIMES…..
Sunrise this morning (13 April)………………………………………. 7:06 am
Sunset this evening (13 April)………………………………………… 7:57 pm
Sunrise tomorrow (14 April)…………………………………………… 7:05 am
Sunset tomorrow (14 April)……………………………………………. 7:58 pm