The weather was quiet over the weekend. Although there were widespread middle and high-level clouds, the weather was very seasonable for early December. A few spots across the western and northern Hill Country saw the temperature fall below freezing early Monday morning.
This week’s weather is shaping up to dry and quiet week as a ridge of high pressure in the upper atmosphere sets up over our area and the storm track stays well up to the north. Satellite images shows the persistent area of middle and high-level clouds that were over our area this weekend has shifted southeast into the Gulf of Mexico. Forecasts call for the sky to remain sunny, to mostly sunny this afternoon through Wednesday. A partly cloud sky is forecast for Thursday and Friday.
Slightly cooler air is currently spreading into Texas behind a weak cold front that moved through the area overnight. The front is basically reinforcing the cool, dry air that was already in place from the weekend. Readings are forecast to be slightly cooler this afternoon and tonight, then warm slightly Tuesday through Friday. A few spots across the Hill Country could see a light freeze Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, but the temperature should remain well above freezing for other locations. Southerly breezes returning Thursday are expected to bring about milder temperatures for Thursday and Friday.
- High temperatures Monday afternoon are forecast to be in the mid and upper 60s.
- Lows Tuesday and Wednesday mornings will include the upper 30s across the Hill Country, the upper 30s to low 40s across Central Texas, and the mid-40s across the coastal plains.
- Lows Thursday morning are forecast to be in the upper 40s.
- Lows Friday morning are forecast to be near 60 degrees.
- High temperatures Wednesday are predicted to be near 68-70 degrees.
- High temperatures Thursday will be in the low 70s, warming to the upper 70s on Friday.
Previous forecasts for rain for this upcoming weekend changed over the weekend. A trough of low pressure dipping south out of the northern Rockies is now forecast only reach as far south as the southern Plains Saturday, with the trough then turning northeast to the middle Mississippi and Ohio Valleys Sunday into Monday. Although a fair amount of moisture is forecast to return to the area ahead of the front, the best atmospheric light is expect to be over East and Northeast Texas. As a result, just a slight chance for rain is forecast Saturday when a cold front associated with the upper trough moves across the area. The slight chance for rain will be for areas along and east of Interstate 35. No rain is predicted for the Hill Country. Rain amounts are forecast to be quite low and remain below a tenth of an inch.
Expect a partly cloudy sky Saturday and a mostly clear sky Saturday night through Sunday. It will be mild Saturday, with a high temperature near 70 degrees. Breezy and cooler weather will follow the cold front Saturday night through Sunday.
Lows Sunday morning will range from the mid-30s across the Hill Country, to around 40 degrees across Central Texas, to the mid-40s across the coastal plains. High temperatures Sunday are forecast to be around 60-62 degrees.
Looking ahead to next week, forecasts call for continued mostly sunny and dry weather throughout the week as the storm track continues up to the north. Daily high temperatures are forecast to be in the 60s, with lows in the 40s.
Long-range forecast are not showing any storm systems that would produce significant rain across our region over the next 2-3 weeks. In addition, the solutions for the next 2-3 weeks are still not showing any outbreaks of cold air that would bring a widespread freeze to our area.
Earliest Sunset of the Year
The earliest sunset of the year occurred over the weekend. This might sound odd since the winter solstice is still over two weeks away. A combination of the slightly elliptical obit of the Earth and its spin axis being tilted, causes the length of a solar day this time of the year is slightly longer than 24 hours. This is turn makes sunrises and sunsets a little later. (we’re talking minutes to seconds longer).
In Austin, sunset Monday evening will be at 5:30 pm. Sunset next Monday, December 11th will be at 5:31 pm.
Have a good week.
Bob
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