AUSTIN DAILY CLIMATE DATA (Austin-Camp Mabry Weather Observation Site)
Day/Date
Hi
Lo
Rain
Degree Days
Lake Travis Pan Evap.
Thu/17 May
88
62
0.00
10 cdd
0.27 inches
Fri/18 May
63
0.00
Sunset Tonight: 8:20 PM
Sunrise Saturday: 6:34 AM
Lake Travis Water Temp: 76 degrees
CLIMATOLOGICAL AVERAGES FOR AUSTIN
For 18 May
Normal High.. 87
Normal Low.. 67
Avg. precip. 0.14 inch
Record High.. 97 set in 1925
Record Low.. 52 set in 1976
RAINFALL STATISTICS AS OF MIDNIGHT (Departure From Normal in Parenthesis)
Austin-Bergstrom Austin Camp Mabry
San Angelo
Victoria
Month to Date
5.29 in.
(+1.53) 5.45 in. (+2.34)
4.50 in.
(+3.09)
2.31 in..
(-0.64)
Year to Date
21.65 in.
(+10.92) 18.88 in. (+11.43)
12.56 in.
(+5.95)
11.81 in.
(+1.33)
SELECTED CITIES WEATHER: (High Yesterday//Low This Morning as of 6 am//Rainfall 6 am to 6 am)
City
Hi
Lo
Rain
City
Hi
Lo
Rain
Austin-Bergstrom
88
58
0.00
La Grange
88
63
0.00
Burnet
87
64
0.00
New Braunfels
86
57
0.00
College Station
89
66
0.00
Palacios
86
69
0.00
Georgetown
88
63
0.00
San Angelo
88
65
0.00
Hondo
88
57
0.00
San Antonio
86
64
0.00
Houston Bush
90
65
0.00
San Marcos
88
61
0.00
Junction
90
63
0.00
Victoria
89
64
0.00
Kerrville
82
55
0.00
Waco
89
65
0.00
WEATHER DISCUSSION
...Dry and Warm Weather Expected through Late Next Week...
The first two weeks of May featured a very active weather pattern across Central and South Texas. But this active pattern abruptly changed this week when the Jet Stream shifted away from Texas. Storm systems moving inland along the West Coast are now turning northeast across the Plains states instead of sinking southeast across northern Mexico and Texas. As a result, our weather has become sunny, dry and warm. In fact, it's beginning to feel a lot like early summer. Today's forecast data indicates the current dry and warm weather pattern will likely continue at least through late next week, and possibly much longer. Slightly warmer temperatures are forecast next week.
An afternoon visible satellite image sums up nicely the very quiet weather conditions currently in place across the south central US, northern Mexico and the western Gulf of Mexico.
You may notice there is an enhanced area of clouds located over the western Caribbean Sea between the Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba. While these clouds look somewhat suspicious, they're associated with low pressure in the upper atmosphere and not a developing low at the surface. Upper-level westerly winds are currently too strong for tropical development. Clouds and showers associated with the upper low are forecast to move northeast towards Florida, staying far away from Texas.
Atmospheric conditions across Central and South Texas will remain relatively dry and stable this weekend, so no rain is forecast. The sky will be mostly sunny both days with high temperatures both days near 88-90 degrees. Breezy south winds of 10-20 mph are forecast Saturday but wind speeds should relax to around 5 to 12 mph on Sunday. A weak Pacific cold front will push into the Texas Panhandle Sunday and settle just south of the Red River on Monday. There appears to be little support to drive the front any further south. A few scattered thunderstorms will be possible across parts of northwest Texas Sunday afternoon and Far North Texas Monday afternoon. But all of this potential activity looks to stay well north of the Hill Country and Central Texas.
Next week, a ridge of high pressure is forecast to grow stronger across Texas and northern Mexico. The ridge will cause continued dry, stable and warm weather. Breezy conditions look to develop Wednesday and continue through late week. High temperatures Monday and Tuesday will be near 88-90 degrees, rising to around 90-92 degrees Wednesday through Friday. Low temperatures next week will generally be in the upper 60s.
The ridge of high pressure over Texas is forecast to shift east late next week as a deep trough of low pressure develops across the western US. This pattern can be seen in the following upper-air forecast for next Saturday, May 26th, from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting:
Note the center of the ridge is over the Ohio Valley while the trough is centered near the West Coast. A pattern such as this typically brings very moist air inland across much of Texas. The increasing moisture should lead to a few more clouds and possibly some scattered rain showers. The European model is hinting at some possible showers for next weekend. But overall, the partly cloudy and warm weather should continue. I'll have more details on the Memorial Day weekend weather in Monday's report.
ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE: On Sunday, May 20th, the Moon will pass in front of the Sun, producing a "ring of fire" solar eclipse visible across the Pacific side of Earth from China to the United States. Unfortunately, this "ring of fire" won't be visible across Central and South Texas. You will have to travel to West Texas, between Midland and Lubbock to see that. However, a partial solar eclipse, where the sun takes on a crescent shape, will be visible locally just before sunset. A little more than half of the sun will disappear behind the moon just before the sun sets below the horizon. The eclipse will begin around 7:30 pm CDT. Be watching between 7:30 pm and sunset. In Austin, sunset on Sunday will be at 8:21 pm. The sun will set a little earlier for areas east of Austin and a little later for areas to the west.
Because this is not a total eclipse, some portion of the sun will always be exposed. To prevent eye damage, use eclipse glasses, a safely-filtered telescope, or a solar projector to observe the eclipse. You can make a handy solar projector by criss-crossing your fingers waffle-style. Rays of light beaming through the gaps will have the same shape as the eclipsed sun. Or look on the ground beneath leafy trees for crescent-shaped sunbeams and rings of light.
THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK: THIS AFTERNOON through SATURDAY...No thunderstorms are forecast.
QUANTITATIVE PRECIPITATION OUTLOOK: THIS AFTERNOON through SATURDAY...No rain is forecast.
SPECIAL LCRA OPERATIONAL STATEMENTS..Recent rains have eased the fire danger across all of the region. However, a burn ban remains posted for McCulloch and Menard Counties. A complete listing of burn bans across the state can be found at: http://tfsfrp.tamu.edu/wildfires/DecBan.png
LCRA SERVICE AREA FORECAST FOR THE NORTH TEXAS COUNTIES OF: BROWN, COMANCHE, MILLS, SAN SABA, COLEMAN, AND LAMPASAS ..Including the cities of Brownwood, Comanche, Goldthwaite, San Saba, Coleman and Lampasas..
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South southeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Saturday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 85. South wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Saturday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 64. South southeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Sunday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 86. South southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph. Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph. Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. South southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 88. South southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind between 10 and 15 mph. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
NWS 6 to 10 DAY OUTLOOK FOR May 24 - May. 28: Above Normal Temperatures. Below Normal Precipitation.
LCRA SERVICE AREA FORECAST FOR THE HILL COUNTRY COUNTIES OF: BLANCO, LLANO, BURNET, GILLESPIE, KENDALL, KERR, AND MASON ..Including the cities of Johnson City, Llano, Burnet, Fredericksburg, Boerne, Kerrville and Mason..
Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 62. South wind between 10 and 15 mph. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind between 10 and 15 mph. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind around 10 mph. Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Monday: Sunny, with a high near 85. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 84. South southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 10 mph. Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 84.
NWS 6 to 10 DAY OUTLOOK FOR May 24 - May. 28: Above Normal Temperatures. Below Normal Precipitation.
LCRA SERVICE AREA FORECAST FOR THE CENTRAL TEXAS COUNTIES OF: BASTROP, CALDWELL, FAYETTE, HAYS, LEE, TRAVIS, AND WILLIAMSON ..Including Metro Austin, Bastrop, Lockhart, San Marcos, Giddings, and Georgetown...
Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 67. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Saturday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 88. South wind between 5 and 15 mph. Saturday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Sunday: Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 88. South southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph. Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind around 5 mph. Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming south southeast between 5 and 10 mph. Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South southwest wind around 5 mph. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 10 mph. Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 89.
NWS 6 to 10 DAY OUTLOOK FOR May 24 - May. 28: Above Normal Temperatures. Below Normal Precipitation.
LCRA FORECAST FOR THE IRRIGATION DISTRICTS AND THE COASTAL COUNTIES OF:
COLORADO, MATAGORDA AND WHARTON ..Including the cities of Columbus, Bay City and Wharton..
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. South wind between 5 and 15 mph. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind between 5 and 15 mph. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southeast between 5 and 10 mph. Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind between 10 and 15 mph becoming calm. Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
NWS 6 to 10 DAY OUTLOOK FOR May 24 - May. 28: Above Normal Temperatures. Below Normal Precipitation.