Thunderstorms spread southeast across Central Texas and the middle Texas coast Thursday evening and Thursday night. The storms produced considerable lightning and thunder, some one-half to three quarters inch-sized hail at a few locations, along with strong and gusty winds. With most of the storms missing the Hill Country, rain amounts here were generally less than a tenth of an inch. For locations east of Interstate 35, including the middle Texas coast, most totals were generally between 0.5 and 1 inch. According to LCRA’s Hydromet, the highest gauged total was 1.29 inches at Columbus, in Colorado County. Through 8 am Friday, Austin-Camp Mabry recorded 0.19 inches, while Austin-Bergstrom recorded 0.88 inches.
Thursday night’s storms developed along a strong Canadian cold front which swept south through the area Thursday night, bringing much colder temperatures. These cold readings are expected to stick around through Monday, followed by milder readings for the middle and latter parts of next week.
The weather pattern is forecast to stay somewhat unsettled through Monday. A mix of rain and snow is forecast to develop across the Hill Country Friday night through midday Saturday. Across Central Texas and the middle Texas coast, expect a cold rain during the same period. Dry weather and scattered sunshine looks to return for Tuesday and Wednesday. The next chance for rain and thunderstorms is forecast to take place next Thursday into Friday.
Friday Afternoon through Friday Evening
The sky is forecast to be mostly cloudy to occasionally partly cloudy. Friday’s high temperature is predicted to be in the low and mid-50s. Expect a north wind at 10-20 mph through late afternoon.
Friday Night through Saturday Night
A weak wave of pressure located over northeastern Mexico is forecast to track across South Texas and the southern half of the Hill Country late Friday night through Saturday morning. The trough is expected to produce a widespread area of light precipitation as it moves across the area. With temperatures in the lower atmosphere across the Hill Country predicted to be below freezing, the precipitation is forecast to become a mixture of light rain and light snow. Across the southern half of the Hill Country and west into the southern Edwards Plateau, light snow accumulations up to an inch are forecast mainly on elevated and grassy surfaces. For areas north of a Johnson City, to Fredericksburg, to Junction line, just a dusting of snow is forecast. No significant impacts are expected. The rain and snow is forecast to diminish Saturday afternoon as the trough of low pressure exits to the east.
Across Central Texas and the middle Texas coast, an area of light rain is forecast to spread across the area after midnight Friday night and continue till about midday Saturday. The rain is predicted to diminish early Saturday afternoon. Rain amounts are forecast to average around a tenth of an inch, or less.
A cloudy sky is forecast Saturday afternoon through Saturday night.
- Lows Saturday morning will include the mid and upper 30s across the Hill Country, and low 40s at most other locations.
- High temperatures Saturday are forecast to be in the mid-50s.
- Lows Sunday morning will include the mid-30s across the Hill Country, the upper 30s across Central Texas, and the low 40s across the coastal plains.
Sunday through Monday
Expect a mostly cloudy to occasionally partly cloudy sky both days as a weak overrunning pattern remains in place across the area. Cold temperatures will persist.
- High temperatures Monday and Tuesday are forecast to be in the low and mid-50s.
- Lows Monday morning will include the low and mid-30s across the Hill Country, and upper 30s across Central Texas and the middle Texas coast.
- Lows Tuesday morning are forecast to be near 40 degrees across the Hill Country, in the low 40s across Central Texas, with mid-40s across the coastal plains.
Tuesday through Wednesday
Southerly breezes are forecast to return to the region early Tuesday, bringing warmer temperatures. Morning clouds both mornings will give way to a partly cloudy sky in the afternoon.
- High temperatures Tuesday will generally be in the mid-60s.
- Low temperatures Wednesday morning will range from the mid-50s across the Hill Country, to the low 60s towards the coast.
- High temperatures Wednesday are forecast to be near 78-80 degrees.
- Lows Thursday morning are forecast to be in the mid and upper 60s
Next Thursday and Friday
Forecasts call for a trough of low pressure to lift northeast from the Desert Southwest into the southern Plains states, dragging a Pacific cold front across Texas. The front is expected to bring an area of rain showers and strong to severe thunderstorms to locations mainly along and east of Interstate 35 late Thursday into Friday. An early look at rain amounts suggests totals in the range of 0.25-0.5 inches.
High temperatures are forecast to be around 78-82 degrees. Lows are forecast to be in the 50s to low 60s. No significant change in the temperature is forecast next weekend.
The next chance for rain is forecast to take place sometime around Monday, March 27th.
Spring Arrives Monday
The vernal equinox, or the first day of spring, will take place this Monday, March 20, 2023, at 4:24 pm CDT. In the Northern Hemisphere, the spring equinox (also called the March equinox or vernal equinox across the globe) occurs when the Sun crosses the celestial equator going from south to north. On the spring equinox, the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere receive roughly equal amounts of sunlight; neither hemisphere is tilted more toward or away from the Sun than the other. Equinoxes are the only two times each year that the Sun rises due east and sets due west for all of us on Earth! While the Sun passes overhead, the tilt of the Earth is zero relative to the Sun, which means that Earth’s axis neither points toward nor away from the Sun.
Have a great weekend and stay warm!
Bob
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