Winter seems to have arrived a little early this year. It was a nice, but cool fall weekend, with the first freeze of the season arriving for many folks. According to LCRA’s Hydromet, temperatures fell to or below freezing across most of the Hill Country and a large part of Central Texas Sunday morning. Readings across the coastal plains generally reached in the mid and upper 30s. LCRA’s lowest gauged temperature across the region was 24 degrees, at a gauge located near Burkett, in northeastern Coleman County. In Austin, the low temperature at Austin-Bergstrom was 29 degrees, and at Camp Mabry, the temperature reached 35 degrees.

Light rain showers developed across most of the region Monday morning as a trough of low pressure tracked east out of the southern Rockies, pulling moisture north from the Gulf. Rain amounts as of early Monday afternoon have been low, with most Hill Country and I-35 totals near or less than a tenth of an inch. The rain has been a little heavier from La Grange, southeast to the coast.

For the remainder of Monday afternoon, the rain is predicted to end across the Hill Country by mid-afternoon. Across Central Texas, the rain should end by late afternoon. Meanwhile across the coastal plains region, scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast through late afternoon. In fact, some of the thunderstorms could be strong to severe. The Storm Prediction Center has placed Southeast Texas, including Colorado, Wharton and Matagorda Counties, under a Marginal Risk, (a 1 out of 5 risk) for severe thunderstorms through Monday evening. The rain and thunderstorm should exit the area by early Monday evening. Rain amounts of 0.5 to 0.75 inches are forecast. Expect a mostly cloudy sky Monday night into early Tuesday morning. Lows overnight will range from the low and mid-30s across the Hill Country, the low 40s near the coast.

 

Mostly sunny, dry and cool weather is forecast Tuesday through Friday. Throughout the period, our region will remain under the influence of a deep trough of low pressure extending from northern Canada to the southern Plains states. Expect cool readings during the day and chilly temperatures at night.

  • High temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday will include the low 50s across the Hill Country, the mid-50s across Central Texas, and mid-to upper 50s towards the coast.
  • High temperatures Thursday will generally be around 58-60 degrees as southerly breezes return.
  • High temperatures Friday will generally be in the low and mid-50s.
  • Lows Tuesday and Wednesday mornings will include the low 30s across the Hill Country, the mid and upper 30s across Central Texas, with upper 30s to low 40s across the coastal plains.
  • Lows Thursday morning will range from the low 30s across the Hill Country, to the upper 30s near the coast.
  • Lows Friday morning will range from the mid-30s across the Hill Country, the low 40s across the coastal plains.

There will be a 40-50 percent chance for rain showers beginning Friday evening, continuing through Saturday afternoon as a trough of tracks southeast out of the southern Rockies and pushes east across the southern Plains. Low totals are forecast, with most rain amounts averaging less than a quarter inch. Clouds should clear late Saturday, followed by a mostly sunny sky on Sunday.

  • High temperatures Saturday are forecast to be in the upper 40s to low 50s, warming to the low and mid-50s Sunday.
  • Lows Sunday and Monday mornings will generally be in the upper 30 to low 40s.

Looking ahead to next week, mostly sunny conditions are forecast Monday and Tuesday. Expect high temperatures both days in the 50s, with lows in the upper 30s to low 40s. Thanksgiving Day may be a wet one. Forecasts call for rain showers to develop Tuesday night. Scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms are forecast Wednesday into Thanksgiving Day as a large trough of low pressure dives southeast out of the Rockies. The rain is forecast to push off to the east Thursday night, followed by dry and mild weather next Friday and next weekend. The temperature outlook calls for high temperatures in the 60s, with lows in the 40s to low 50s. Stay tuned for more details on the Thanksgiving Day forecast.

Tropical Weather Outlook

Weather conditions across the tropical Atlantic are quiet, and tropical cyclone development is not forecast for at least the next five days.

Have a good week.

Bob