Saturday’s cold front brought just a few hundredths of an inch of rain to locations across Central Texas. However, more significant rains developed across parts of Colorado and Wharton Counties Saturday night, where many locations along and just south of Interstate 10 saw totals of between 1 and 2 inches. The big winner for rain was northern Colorado County, where LCRA’s gauge located along Cummins Creek near Frelsburg reported a storm total of 3.76 inches.
The week is starting off with quiet weather and very mild temperatures for January standards. Canadian high pressure which spread into the area yesterday has already moved off to the east, causing a return of light southerly breezes. Sunshine will be in place this afternoon. Expect a high temperature near 70-72 degrees. Widespread low clouds and patchy fog are forecast to develop for areas along and east of Interstate 35 late Monday night into Tuesday morning as a shallow layer of moisture returns off the Gulf. Lows Tuesday morning will range from the upper 40s across the Hill Country, to the mid-50s across the coastal plains.
Mostly sunny, breezy, and unseasonably warm weather is predicted for Tuesday and Wednesday. Forecasts call for an area of low pressure to track from the Four Corners region to the central Plains states late Tuesday into Wednesday. South and southwesterly breezes are forecast to develop across Central and South Texas in advance of the approaching low. Wind speeds are predicated to be in the range of 10-15 mph Tuesday, and 10-20 mph with gusts to 25 mph Wednesday. High temperatures both days are expected to be around 80-82 degrees. Lows Wednesday morning are predicted to be in the mid and upper 50s.
A Canadian cold front is forecast to push south through the region Wednesday night bringing with it noticeably cooler air. Limited moisture and convergence along the front will likely preclude the development of any rain. Sunny, dry, and cooler weather will follow Thursday and continue through the upcoming weekend.
Elevated to near critical fire weather conditions are predicted for Thursday due to the combination of gusty northwesterly breezes and very low relative humidity levels.
- High temperatures Thursday and Friday will be in the mid and upper 60s.
- Lows Friday and Saturday mornings will include the mid and upper 30s across the Hill Country, the upper 30s across Central Texas, and the low 40s across the coastal plains.
- High temperatures Saturday and Sunday are forecast to be in the upper 60s to low 70s.
- Lows Sunday and Monday mornings are predicted to be in the mid and upper 40s.
Looking ahead to next week, there will be a slight chance for rain for areas along and east of Interstate 35 Monday as another Pacific low pressure area tracks east-northeast out of the Desert Southwest. Rain amounts, if any, are forecast to total less than a tenth of an inch. Dry and mild weather will follow next Tuesday. High temperatures both days are forecast to be in the mid and upper 70s. Forecasts point to another chance for rain developing the middle of next week when yet another Pacific trough of low pressure tracks east across the southern Plains states. Areas along and east of Interstate 35 could see totals in the range of a tenth of an inch, to a half inch. Dry weather looks to follow late next week. Temperatures will be quite mild, with daily highs in the 70s, and lows in the 50s.
There are still no signs of any significantly colder weather for our region through the week of January 23rd.
Latest Sunrise of the Year
Although the winter solstice took place nearly three weeks ago, the latest sunrises of the year are just now taking place today and Tuesday. Due to the elliptical orbit of the Earth and its slightly faster orbital speed close to the solstice, the latest sunrises of the year are occurring for areas near 30 degrees north latitude. In Austin, sunrise today and Tuesday will be at 7:28 am. The sun will begin rising a bit earlier Wednesday and continue rising earlier for the next six months.
Have a good week.
Bob
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