Weather conditions are fairly quiet as we close out the workweek. Our region is currently sandwiched between a non-tropical area of low pressure in the upper atmosphere located over the northern Gulf of Mexico, and tropical storm Kay, located over the northern Baja Peninsula. A weak ridge of high pressure situated between the two features is causing a generally stable atmosphere across the Hill Country, Central Texas, and coastal regions. It should be noted, a lingering area of tropical moisture may spark the development of a couple of isolated thunderstorms across parts of Central Texas and the coastal region this afternoon. But the probability for rain will at best be 20 percent. Most areas will likely stay dry.  Afternoon temperatures are forecast to peak in the low and middle 90s. Expect light southeasterly winds at 5-10 mph.

Sunny and dry weather will be in place over the weekend as the weak ridge of high pressure strengthens slightly over the area. There will be little to no threat for rain. High temperatures both days will be in the low and mid-90s. Lows will include the upper 60s across the Hill Country, around 70 degrees across Central Texas, and the low 70s near the coast.

A weak, dry cold front is predicted to slide south across the area Sunday afternoon into Sunday night. With very limited moisture in place, no rain is expected. The front is expected to shift the wind out of the north and bring in drier air. But no noticeable cooldown is expected through the first half of next week. The sunny, dry, and warm pattern will continue, with high temperatures generally in the low to mid-90s. Lows will be around 68-70 degrees.

Sunny, dry and more humid weather is forecast late next week into next weekend as a moist flow sets up off the Gulf of Mexico. High temperatures will continue in the low and mid-90s, with lows mostly in the low 70s. Some isolated rain showers will be possible each day across the coastal plains region as the Sea Breeze becomes more active. No significant totals of rain are forecast.

The National Weather Service’s 7-day rain outlook calls for little to no rain across Central Texas through next Friday evening:

Looking out into the week of September 19th, some scattered rain showers are forecast to develop across the region as the ridge over Texas shifts to the east, and moisture levels increase off the Gulf. As of now, significant totals of rain are not expected. High temperatures look to stay mostly in the low 90s.

Tropical Weather Update

There are no systems in the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea which pose a threat for tropical development over the next 5 days.

In the Atlantic, Hurricane Earl was located early Friday afternoon about 255 miles east-northeast of Bermuda, moving to the northeast at 22 mph. Maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph with higher gusts. Earl is expected to complete its transition to a powerful hurricane-force extratropical low on Saturday and then steadily weaken through early Monday. The storm poses no threat to any land areas.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring 3 other tropical waves located over the central and far eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean. None of these systems are showing much potential for development over the next few days.

The Harvest Moon this Weekend

Friday night and Saturday nights, watch for the bright, round full moon to rise in the east at sunset. On both nights, the bright Harvest Moon will be up all night long. The Harvest Moon is just a name. In some ways, it’s like any other full moon name. But these autumn full moons do have special characteristics related to the time of moonrise. Nature is particularly cooperative in giving us dusk-till-dawn moonlight, for several evenings in a row, around the time of the Harvest Moon. The shorter-than-usual lag time between moonrises around the full Harvest Moon means no long period of darkness between sunset and moonrise for days in succession. In the days before tractor lights, the lamp of the Harvest Moon helped farmers gather their crops despite the diminishing daylight hours. As the sun’s light faded in the west, the moon would soon rise in the east to illuminate the fields throughout the night.

Have a good weekend!

Bob