Austin / Travis County and South Central Texas Weather Update #2
Prepared by UT University/Incident Meteorologist Troy Kimmel
945am CT – Thursday / 13 December 2018
.. Prepare Now for Strong Wind Gusts of 40 to 45 mph by Midday into Afternoon Today ..
.. NWS/Austin-San Antonio has issued a WIND ADVISORY for the IH35 Corridor
Effective at 10am This Morning Until Midnight Tonight ..
.. A Strong and Dynamic Series of Upper Level Low Pressure disturbances Crossing Overhead
the Next 24 Hours with a Wind and Precipitation Threat ..
At mid morning on this Thursday, a strong upper level low pressure disturbance is
moving eastward from near the Midland area in west Texas. This system will move eastward
overhead south central Texas later today and tonight into the predawn hours tomorrow.
The initial part of this disturbance will allow a surface cold front beneath it to surge through our
area by midday today. West northwesterly winds, in the wake of the disturbance and cold front, will
be quite strong with winds sustained in the 25 to 35 mph range with gusts to 40 to 45 mph. This will
be under a mostly sunny to partly cloudy sky today.. no precipitation expected. All local
interests, particularly aviation and utilities, should prepare for these strong west northwesterly
winds since with winds of this strength could result garbage cans and other non-secured items to be
blown about as well result in some power outages. Although rains last weekend alleviated fire dangers,
we also need to monitor the fire danger especially with the dormant vegetation due to the earlier than
average freezes. Winds should slowly die down by late tonight into the day tomorrow.
By later tonight, the strong disturbance passes directly overhead and to the east, on top of the colder surface air.
Clouds will quickly pickup this evening and the system will likely wring out any residual moisture in the
atmosphere with scattered rain showers expected across the area mainly between 6pm tonight and 4am
tomorrow. Although overnight low surface temperatures will remain above freezing tonight, the atmospheric
column above will be quite cold. As a result, it would not surprise me if a few snow flakes mixed with the rain
showers, mainly in areas north of the Austin metro area, especially as the upper air disturbance moves directly
overhead. At this point, with surface temperatures remaining above freezing, it will not result in any icing issues.
Precipitation will end before sunrise tomorrow with clouds clearing out thereafter.
I will continue to keep you informed on this weather situation.
tk