Only low totals of rain are forecast across the region through the end of March. So far this month, the rain has generally been between 1 and 2 inches below normal. The month of March appears to be fitting into the pattern of below normal rain that has been in place since late November. However, some changes may be on the horizon as several of the latest forecast model solutions are pointing toward a wetter pattern developing across Texas during April, with the rain trending above normal. Stay tuned for further updates.
No big swings in the temperature are expected through the end of the month. High temperatures are expected to stay mostly in the upper 70s to mid-80s.
This Afternoon and Tonight
At midday, a Pacific cold front was pushing east across the Interstate 35 corridor. Earlier this morning, the cold front generated some strong to severe storms across parts of North Texas. Further south across Central Texas and the Hill Country, the atmosphere has been more stable and front has only been able to generate a thin band of light rain showers. This area of light showers is forecast to push east across the eastern counties of Central Texas and the coastal plains region this afternoon. The front is predicted to move off the middle Texas coast early Friday evening.
The sky is clearing quickly behind the cold front as drier and very stable air spreads in from the west. In addition, breezy westerly winds with speeds of 10-20 mph and gusts to 30 mph are forecast. Wind speeds of 10-15 mph are expected to continue Friday evening and Friday night.
- Friday’s high temperature is forecast to be in the low and mid-80s.
- Lows Saturday morning are forecast to be in the low 50s, with mid and upper 50s expected towards the coast.
Saturday through Sunday
Saturday’s weather will be sunny and very spring-like as Pacific high pressure settles across Texas. Expect low humidity levels and light northwesterly breezes. Temperatures will trend a little cooler Saturday night.
- Saturday’s high temperature should range from the upper 70s across the Hill Country, the mid-80s near the coast.
- Lows Sunday morning will include the upper 40s across the Hill Country, the low 50s across Central Texas, and the mid-50s towards the coast.
Sunday’s weather is shaping up to be mostly sunny to partly cloudy across the Hill Country and Central Texas regions, and mostly cloudy across the coastal plains. Forecasts call for today’s cold front to move back north to the Interstate 10 corridor Sunday afternoon, pulling moisture north from the Gulf. A 30-40 percent chance for scattered rain showers is forecast for across the coastal plains Sunday afternoon. Rain amounts should total less than a quarter inch.
- Sunday’s temperatures is forecast to warm to around 78-80 degrees.
- Lows Monday morning will range from the upper 40s across the Hill Country, to the mid-50s across Central Texas, to the low 60s near the coast.
Monday through Wednesday
The sky is forecast to be partly to mostly cloudy all three days. A weak cold front is predicted to sag south into the area early Tuesday, but move back to the north on Wednesday. The front is expected to generate a slight chance for rain showers across the region Tuesday and Wednesday. The probability for rain will only be 20 percent. Rain amounts, if any, are forecast to average around a tenth of an inch.
- High temperatures Monday through Wednesday are forecast to generally be in the mid-70s.
- Low temperatures Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings are forecast to be in the upper 50s to low 60s.
Next Thursday and Friday
There will be a chance for rain showers and scattered thunderstorms late Thursday through Friday morning as the next upstream Pacific trough of low pressure tracks from the Desert Southwest to the southern Plains states. The trough will help push another Pacific cold front through the area, with showers and thunderstorms expected along the front. An early forecast on rain amounts calls for totals to be in the range of 0.25 to 0.35 inches.
- High temperatures both days are predicted to be near 80 degrees.
- Lows Friday morning are forecast to be in the 60s, while low Saturday morning are forecast to be in the 50s.
Next Weekend
Forecasts call for partly cloudy and warm weather, with high temperatures in the low 80s, and lows in the 60s.
Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, and the Moon
Venus is the brilliant “Evening Star” shining in the west during and after dusk. It finally sets almost 2 hours after dark. Look for the young moon to be below Venus Friday evening, then move above Venus over the weekend.
Mercury and Jupiter are very low in the glow of sunset. Look due west about a half hour after sunset, far to the lower right of Venus. Binoculars will help. Jupiter is magnitude –2.0 and Mercury is not far behind: magnitude –1.5 on Friday March 24th, fading to –1.1 over the next seven days.
Have a good weekend!
Bob
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