Updated 130pm CDT Friday / 10 August 2012

…. An Isolated Evening Thunderstorm Possible Through Midnight Tonight ….
…. A Dry and Stable Summer Weather Pattern Continues ….
…. Above Average Afternoon High Temperatures Continue ….

On this Friday… a weak stationary front extends northeast-to-southwest from northwestern Tennessee and southern Arkansas into central Texas then northwestward through west Texas.. northeastern New Mexico back northward into Colorado. Ahead of the weak front, weak surface high pressure continues across our area. As a result of this surface pattern, a south southwesterly surface wind is prevailing across the southern parts of our area with a light northerly surface wind northern part of our area.

In the upper levels of the atmosphere, the upper high pressure ridge, acting like a lid on the atmosphere, is located over the four corners region and the intermountain west with a trough.. or line.. of upper level low pressure extends southward over the eastern half of the USA.  As a result of the upper air wind flow, the upper level winds are light northerly over our area.

Although a moist tropical air mass continues across the area, the large stable upper level high pressure area to our northwest continues its influence on our area weather by keeping a “lid” on the atmosphere. Some isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible through midnight tonight as a cold front continues to weaken in areas just to our north. A slim chance returns as the atmosphere grows more unstable once again for the middle part of next week.

In short, other than our slim chance of thunderstorms this evening, I expect little change in the overall pattern. It looks like the mostly dry summertime forecast continues over the next seven days. Afternoon high temperatures will continue to be at or above seasonal averages through the seven day forecast period.

For Austin and south central Texas… tonight will see isolated rain showers and thunderstorms until midnight otherwise expect to see a few clouds with lows in the 70s. Southerly wind. For tomorrow, a mostly sunny sky will continue with highs around 100 with a south southwesterly wind.

Have a good Friday night and Saturday…
Meteorologist Troy Kimmel

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