Thursday’s cold front reminded us that winter isn’t quite over just yet. The temperature fell below freezing across the Hill Country and parts of the Interstate 35 corridor early Friday morning, while the rest of the region saw readings fall to the mid and upper 30s. In Austin, both Camp Mabry and Austin-Bergstrom Airport recorded minimum temperatures of 33 degrees.

The strong winds we’ve been experiencing over the past few days should finally decrease from west to east Friday afternoon as a dome of Canadian high pressure settles over our area, causing the pressure gradient to relax. Wind speeds are predicted to fall to a range of 10-15 mph Friday afternoon, and 5-10 mph Friday night. Friday’s temperature will remain quite cool, despite abundant sunshine. Readings are forecast to top out generally in the low 50s.  It will be clear and cold Friday night with another freeze forecast for the Hill Country and much of Central Texas. Lows Saturday morning look to be near 26-30 degrees across the Hill Country, near 30-32 degrees across Central Texas, and in the mid-30s across the coastal plains.

Dry and quiet weather conditions are forecast for the weekend.

Saturday through Saturday night, a weak wave of low pressure lifting northeast our of Mexico is expected to pull widespread middle and high-level clouds across Texas. This will result in a partly to mostly cloudy sky. No rain is predicted as the lower atmosphere will be way too dry. High temperatures are forecast to be in the mid and upper 50s. Expect a southeasterly breeze at 5-10 mph. Lows Sunday morning are forecast to generally be in the low 40s.

Sunday’s weather is shaping up to be mostly sunny, breezy, and noticeably warmer as southerly winds return to the area. Expect southerly breezes at 10-15 mph. Sunday’s temperatures is forecast to reach the mid-70s. Lows Monday morning are forecast to be in the mid-50s.

Next week’s weather is expected to be fairly quiet and spring-like, with a slight chance for rain occurring mid-week.

For Monday and Tuesday, expect widespread morning clouds, following by a partly cloudy sky in the afternoon. Breezy and warm weather is forecast, with high temperatures both days in the low 80s. A few spots could even see readings reaching the mid-80s. Lows Tuesday and Wednesday mornings will include the upper 50s across the Hill Country and the low 60s at most other locations.

There will be a slight chance for light rain showers and a couple of isolated thunderstorms for the area north of Interstate 10 late between Tuesday night and midday Wednesday. This chance for rain will occur as a trough of low pressure pushes east out of the Desert Southwest, dragging a Pacific cold front across Texas. Forecasts show limited moisture in place ahead of the front, so the probability for rain will only be near 20-30 percent. Rain amounts, if any, will be low—averaging less than a quarter inch. Wednesday’s high temperature is forecast to be in the low to mid-80s.

Mostly sunny, dry, and mild weather will close out the week Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Expect high temperatures in the low and mid-70s, with lows in the upper 50s to low 60s.

Forecasts call for a chance for rain showers and isolated thunderstorms to develop next Sunday when a trough of low pressure tracks across North and Central Texas out of northern Mexico. As of now, rain amounts are not expected to be very heavy.

Mild temperatures are expected to close out the month, with highs forecast to be in the low 70s, and lows in the low 50s.

 

Have a great weekend.

Bob