Updated 130pm CDT Thursday / 9 August 2012

…. Only Isolated Evening Thunderstorms Possible Before Midnight Tonight ….
…. Slim Thunderstorm Chances Again by the Middle Part of Next Week ….
…. An Otherwise Dry and Stable Summer Weather Pattern Continues ….

On this Thursday… a weak stationary front extends east-to-west from the Missouri boot heel westward through northern Oklahoma and into the northwest Texas panhandle and then northwestward into Colorado. Weak surface high pressure continues across our area. As a result of this surface pattern, a south southwesterly surface wind is prevailing across 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 fairly 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 and a slim chance returns as the atmosphere grows more unstable once again for the middle part of next week.

In short, 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 just above 100 with a south southwesterly wind.

Have a good Thursday night and Friday…
Meteorologist Troy Kimmel

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