Updated 130pm CDT Monday / 23 April 2012

…. South Southeasterly Surface Winds Returning to Texas ….
…. Upper Level High Pressure Acting Like a “Lid” on the Atmosphere ….
…. A Dry Weather Pattern Through the Next Several Days ….

On this Monday… surface high pressure is centered over the plains states. A cold front extends from central Florida westward into deep south Texas and then into northeastern Mexico and southwest Texas and north northwestward through New Mexico.  As a result, a east northeasterly surface wind is blowing across our area.

In the upper levels of the atmosphere, an upper level trough.. or line.. of low pressure is situated north to south over the eastern USA while a ridge of upper level high pressure covers the western USA with another trough.. or line.. of upper air low pressure off the west coast of the USA. As a result of the upper air wind flow, the upper level winds are moderate northwesterly over Texas.

The surface high pressure.. which has moved overhead of the area in the wake of the weak cold front that passed last night.. will move east of the area tonight into tomorrow along with the development of a trough of low pressure to our west. As a result, a south southeasterly surface winds will return with a return of low level moisture for the middle and latter part of the week.

Late night and early morning low clouds will return by mid and late week as overnight low temperatures and daytime high temperatures rise back to above seasonal levels.

At this point, I will not call for any precipitation over the next seven days. A weak cold front in west Texas will pull up stationary north and northwest of the area for the weekend.

My forecast confidence continues very high through much of the upcoming seven day forecast period.

For Austin and south central Texas… tonight will see a clear sky. Lows in the 50s. Southeasterly wind. For tomorrow, it’ll be mostly sunny. Highs in the 80s with a southerly wind.

Have a good Monday night and Tuesday…
Meteorologist Troy Kimmel