Sunny and pleasant weather is in place across the region as start off the new week. Canadian air spreading into Texas behind Sunday’s cold front has resulted in cooler air and much lower humidity levels. While the cold front brought little to no rain to the Hill Country and Central Texas on Sunday, totals of .25 to .75 inches were recorded across the coastal plains—mainly to the south of U.S. Highway 59. LCRA’s gauge at Bay City recorded the highest total at 0.99 inches. Readings were a little chilly this morning. According to LCRA’s Hydromet, low temperatures Monday morning were a mix of upper 30s to low 40s across the Hill Country and Central Texas, and mid-40s to low 50s across the coastal plains.

There will be several changes in the weather this week as moisture returns off the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, followed by a strong cold front early Wednesday. Breezy to windy conditions will develop Tuesday and persist through late week.

This afternoon, expect a sunny sky and mild temperatures. Readings should top out in the mid and upper 70s. South winds should gradually increase to around 10-15 mph.

Widespread low clouds are forecast to develop late this evening and overnight as moisture begins returning off the Gulf of Mexico. Some patchy drizzle may develop late Monday night and toward daybreak Tuesday for areas along and east of the Escarpment, including the coastal plains. Lows Tuesday morning will be in the mid and upper 50s.

Tuesday’s weather will start off cloudy with patchy drizzle. A mostly cloudy to overcast sky will likely persist through the afternoon. There will slight chance for a few scattered rain showers across the coastal plains region as Sunday’s cold front moves back to the north as a warm front. High temperatures will generally be in the low 80s. Expect a south wind at 10-15 mph, with occasional gusts to 30 mph. Breezy conditions will continue Tuesday night.

A Canadian cold front is predicted to sink south out of North Texas Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. The front is forecast to reach the Austin area around sunrise Wednesday, pushing off the middle Texas coast around noon. The atmosphere is shaping up to be unfavorable for the development of rain when it crosses the Hill Country and Central Texas regions. However, a few scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms may develop when the front moves across the coastal region Wednesday morning. Totals, if any, should average around a tenth of an inch.

Clouds should decrease from north to south Wednesday morning into Wednesday afternoon as cooler and drier air spreads in behind the cold front. Expect northerly winds at 15-25 mph, with some gusts to 35 mph Wednesday afternoon. Wind speeds should decrease to around 5-10 mph Wednesday night into Thursday. However, southerly winds are forecast to return on Friday, with speeds increasing to 10-15 mph by the afternoon.

  • High temperatures Wednesday will be in the mid and upper 60s, with low to mid-70s expected towards the coast.
  • Lows Thursday morning will include the upper 30s across the Hill Country, the low and mid-40s across Central Texas and the upper 40s towards the coast.
  • High temperatures Thursday will be in the upper 60s.
  • Lows Friday morning will be in the low and mid-40s, with upper 40s towards the coast.
  • High temperatures Friday will be in the upper 60s to low 70s.

The outlook for the upcoming Easter weekend calls for a pattern of nighttime clouds and partly cloudy afternoons. Moisture is predicted to return off the Gulf of Mexico beginning late Friday and continuing through the weekend. A few spotty rain showers will not be out of the question towards the coast. High temperatures both days will be in the mid and upper 70s while lows will be in the mid-50s.

Looking ahead to next week, forecasts call for a generally dry and warm pattern across the region as a ridge of high pressure spreads over Texas out of northern Mexico. Daily high temperatures will be in the low and mid-80s, while low temperatures will be in the 60s.

The Threat for a Late Spring Freeze Appearing Quite Low

Forecast data looking out into the middle of April calls for a generally mild to warm pattern, with little threat for arctic air to slip south into Texas. In Austin, the latest freeze on record is April 9th at Camp Mabry and April 16th at Austin-Bergstrom. Based on historical extremes and the latest forecast data, I can fairly confidently say we have likely seen the last freezing temperature for the spring across Central Texas.

Have a good week.

Bob