Updated 800am CT – Friday / 19 December 2014

…. Upper Level Storm System Moves Northeastward ….
…. Somewhat Drier Weather for the Weekend Into Early Next Week ….

On this Friday morning…. a low pressure area is along the Texas coast with a cold front extending northwestward into far west Texas and northeastern New Mexico. High pressure.. to our northeast.. is over eastern Kansas and northern Illinois. As a result of this surface weather pattern, our local surface winds are northerly.

In the upper levels of the atmosphere.. an upper level trough.. or line.. of low pressure is located from the central plains southward into west Texas. As a result, our upper air winds at about 18,500 feet are southwesterly 45 to 55 mph.

Clouds and rain chances are decreasing rapidly now as the upper level low pressure storm system moves quickly off to our east as the day goes along. The surface cold front will continue to move through south Texas today with a surface high pressure area building in with drier and more stable air with at least a little sunshine over the weekend.

Another upper air low pressure storm system will pass over the area by Monday night into early Tuesday with another weak cold front moving through the area in the wake of the upper air disturbance. Tuesday.. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day all look good at this time with lots of sunshine and slightly warmer temperatures returning.

Another cold front.. looking to be dry in nature.. is forecast to move through the area by next Friday morning with cooler temperatures to follow late next week into the following weekend.

Regarding my forecast, my local forecast confidence: My forecast confidence is high today with remaining light rain showers amounts being the question. My forecast confidence rises back to very high for tonight through most of next week.

Have a good Friday….
Meteorologist Troy Kimmel

Contact me:
tkimmel@austin.utexas.edu
http://www.facebook.com/troykimmel