Much of the Hill Country and Central Texas turned into a winter wonderland Sunday as snow developed and persisted across the area till late afternoon. For most locations, it was heavy, wet snow, with the snow to liquid ratio somewhere around 5 to 1. Most locations saw snow totals between 1 and 3 inches. However, amounts were a bit heavier just north of Austin between Leander, Round Rock and Rockdale where totals of 4-6 inches were recorded. Amounts of 4-6 inches were also reported between Brownwood, Abilene and Brady. To the south of a New Braunfels to La Grange to Bellville line, the snow turned into just a cold rain. In Austin, Camp Mabry measured an official total of 1.5 inches while Austin-Bergstrom recorded 1.3 inches. This was the highest snow total for Austin since February 2004, when 1.6 inches was recorded.
While snow was the most unique part of the weather over the weekend, it’s important to note the storm system brought another round of significant rain to much of the area. Liquid totals were generally around a half inch across Hill Country and around 1-1.5 inches across Central Texas and the middle Texas coast.
The trough of low pressure responsible Sunday’s rain and snow exited to the northeast Sunday night. This afternoon, the sky will slowly clear as moisture levels decrease. Forecasts call for a dry weather pattern to take hold across Texas this afternoon and continue throughout the week. Today’s temperature will remain rather chilly as a cold dome of high pressure settles south over our area. This additional push of chilly air will likely cause a widespread freeze across the region Monday night followed by another light freeze Tuesday night.
- High temperatures this afternoon will include the low to mid-40s across the Hill Country with mid to upper 40s at most other locations.
- Lows Tuesday morning will include the low and mid-20s across the Hill Country, the mid and upper 20s across Central Texas and be near 30 degrees across the coastal plains.
- High temperatures Tuesday will be in the upper 40s to low 50s.
- Low temperatures Wednesday morning will include the upper 20s across the Hill Country, the low and mid-30s across Central Texas and mid-30s across the coastal plains.
A weak wave of low pressure is predicted to track east across the state early Wednesday, but no rain is forecast due to so little available moisture. The system will cause a partly cloudy sky. Expect a high temperature in low 60s. Lows Thursday morning will be in the mid-30s across the Hill Country and in the upper 30s at most other locations.
Thursday’s weather will be sunny and a bit warmer as south and southwesterly breezes increase. Afternoon temperatures are expected to warm to around 68-70 degrees. But a dry cold front is predicted to slide south across the region Thursday evening into Thursday night, bringing slightly cooler air for Friday and the weekend.
- Lows Friday morning will be in the upper 30s to low 40s.
- High temperatures Friday will be in the upper 50s to low 60s.
- Lows Saturday morning will range from the low 30s across the Hill Country to the upper 30s near the coast.
- High temperatures Saturday will be in the 60s.
Forecasts call for another chance for rain to develop sometime next Sunday into Monday when a trough of low pressure tracks southeast out of the Desert Southwest and moves across Texas. This system is predicted to cause a chance for rain showers beginning late Sunday, continuing into early next week. Some significant totals of rain appear possible. Mostly sunny weather is predicted for the second half of next week. No significant change in the temperature is forecast next week, with highs staying around 60 degrees and lows in the 40s.
Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury
For the first time since October 2015, you have the chance tonight to view a planetary trio, or three planets bunched together low in the western sky. At dusk Monday evening, watch for the now-famous planets Jupiter and Saturn, fresh from their December 21 great conjunction and still close together. The third planet, Mercury, is just now coming into view. All three worlds will pop out low in the western sky, close to the sunset point on the horizon. Jupiter will be the brightest of the three, followed by Mercury and then Saturn.
Beginning Thursday evening and continuing into next weekend, there will be several opportunities to see the International Space Station cross our evening sky. For the times, days and directions to look, check out spotthestation.nasa.gov
Bob
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