Austin / Travis County and South Central Texas Weather Statement #1
Prepared by UT University/Incident Meteorologist Troy Kimmel
345pm CT – Friday / 13 April 2018
As we go into our weekend, two weather related risks that we face here on the IH35 corridor… I will continue to monitor both of these risks…
(1) .. Marginal Risk of Severe Thunderstorms Between 6pm and 12 Midnight Tonight ..
Courtesy: NWS/Storm Prediction Center
As a strong upper level low pressure areas passes north of the area by tonight and an associated surface cold front moves across the IH35 corridor by midnight tonight, high resolution model guidance suggests that a few strong thunderstorms may develop just to our west or overhead between 6 and 8pm tonight and progress east southeast across the area.
Larger hail and damaging straight line thunderstorm winds are the biggest threat along with a lesser risk of tornadoes. The severe weather risk will be greatest in areas to the north, northeast and east of the Austin area proper. Dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning will accompany any thunderstorms that develop.
Any outdoor activities this evening into tonight should be weather aware and be ready to seek safe shelter if thunderstorms develop.
—-
(2) .. A Wildfire Risk for Tomorrow into Tomorrow Night ..
.. A Fire Weather Watch Has Been Issued for the IH35 Corridor and Westward ..
Please pay close attention to the latest information tomorrow into tomorrow night from local officials reference this wildfire risk.
Authority: NWS Austin/San Antonio
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
308 PM CDT Fri Apr 13 2018
...A Fire Weather Watch has been issued for areas west of the
Interstate 35 corridor due to very low relative humidities and
strong north winds Saturday morning through Saturday evening...
.A dry-line is currently moving through Val Verde and Edwards counties
and will continue east through the remainder of the afternoon and
evening. Gusty west and northwest winds and very low relative
humidity values will continue to develop behind it this afternoon and
evening. Wind gusts around 30 mph and RH values bottoming out around
5 to 15 percent will develop through the late afternoon. When
combined with dry fuels this result in critical fire weather
conditions and a Red Flag Warning remains in effect for Val Verde,
Kinney, and Edwards counties.
A cold front is forecast to move through late tonight. Strong north
winds will develop behind the front on Saturday, with drier air
filtering into the rest of the region. Wind gusts to around 30 mph
with minimum RH values in the teens to 20s will result in elevated to
near critical fire weather conditions on Saturday. A Fire Weather
Watch is in effect for areas near and west of I-35 and could be
upgraded to a Red Flag Warning tomorrow.
Dry and warmer conditions for Monday and Tuesday, and a breezy
southerly wind could lead to elevated fire weather conditions in some
areas.
TXZ173-191-192-206-141100-
/O.EXA.KEWX.FW.A.0004.180414T1600Z-180415T0000Z/
Williamson-Hays-Travis-Comal-
308 PM CDT Fri Apr 13 2018
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH
SATURDAY EVENING FOR AREAS NEAR AND WEST OF THE INTERSTATE 35
CORRIDOR...
The National Weather Service in Austin/San Antonio has issued a
Fire Weather Watch, which is in effect from Saturday morning
through Saturday evening.
* AFFECTED AREA...All locations west of the Interstate 35
corridor.
* WIND...North winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
* HUMIDITY...15 to 25 percent.
* IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible
Red Flag Warnings.
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