This week’s unsettled weather pattern resulted in rain totals close to an inch across the northern Hill Country, generally in the area between Brownwood, Brady and San Saba. Parts of the middle Texas coast received totals between a quarter and a half inch. But across most of the region, totals so far have averaged near or less than a quarter inch. There will be another chance for rain this afternoon and again on Saturday. Mostly dry weather is expected Sunday through Wednesday. However, a chance for rain is predicted to develop late next week.

Scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms are forecast to develop and track east across the region this afternoon as a weak trough of low pressure tracks east out of Mexico. Only light to occasionally moderate rain is forecast, with the probability for rain near 50 percent. There will be a low chance a couple of the developing thunderstorms could be strong to severe, but widespread severe storms, similar to what occurred Thursday, is not anticipated. As of midday, a Canadian cold front was beginning to move into the northern Hill Country out of Northwest Texas. The front stretched from Wichita Falls to San Angelo and Fort Stockton. The front is predicted to push southeast across the Hill Country this afternoon, reaching the Austin/I-35 corridor around 6 pm. The front is forecast to continue moving southeast and push off the middle Texas coast shortly after midnight. High resolution forecasts call for a broken area of rain showers and thunderstorms to develop along the cold front across the Hill Country, with the activity spreading southeast with the front through the evening. Once again, a couple of the thunderstorms could be strong to marginally severe, producing small hail and strong winds. But widespread, severe weather is not anticipated. The showers are forecast to taper off across the Hill Country this afternoon, across Central Texas this evening and the coastal area late tonight.  Northwesterly winds will increase to 10-20 mph behind the front.

Totals through sunrise Saturday are forecast to average around a quarter inch, with isolated totals to a half inch possible. High temperatures this afternoon will generally be in the low and mid-70s. Lows Saturday morning will range from the mid and upper 40s northwest, to the upper 50s near the coast.

There will be a low end probability for occasional light rain showers to spread across the region Saturday when another weak wave of low pressure tracks east out of New Mexico. Widespread overrunning clouds and spotty light rain are forecast through Saturday evening, followed by dry conditions Saturday night. Rain amounts are forecast to average less than a tenth of an inch.  High temperatures Saturday are predicted to be around 58-60 degrees across the Hill Country, in the low 60s across Central Texas and in the mid to upper 60s near the coast. Expect a north wind at 10-20 mph, with occasional gusts to 30 mph. Wind speeds should decrease to 10-15 mph Saturday night. Lows Sunday morning will include the low and mid-40s across the Hill Country, the mid and upper 40s across Central Texas and be near 50 degrees close to the coast.

Sunday’s weather is looking to be mostly sunny to partly cloudy and cool.  Expect a high temperature in mid-60s. Lows Monday morning will range from the mid-40s across the Hill Country to low 50s near the coast.

A partly cloudy sky is forecast Monday. However, a few sprinkles of light rain will be possible Monday afternoon into Monday evening as yet another weak disturbance pushes east out of northern Mexico. Rainfall, if any, will only amount to a few hundredths. High temperatures Monday will be in the low 70s. Lows Tuesday morning are forecast to be in the mid and upper 40s.

Mostly sunny and mild weather will be in place Tuesday and Wednesday. High temperatures both days will be in the low and mid-70s. Lows Wednesday morning will be in the upper 40s while lows Thursday morning will be in the low 50s.

Forecasts call for a chance for rain showers and scattered thunderstorms Thursday into Friday as the next upstream trough of low pressure pushes east out of New Mexico. Totals are forecast to average around a quarter inch. High temperatures Thursday will be in the mid-70s, warming to the upper 70s on Friday. Lows will be in the 50s.

Sunny and mild weather is forecast next weekend, continuing through the middle of the following week. High temperatures are forecast to be near 80-82 degrees, with low temperatures near 60 degrees. Long-range solutions indicate a chance for rain and thunderstorms developing late that week as a large trough of low pressure pushes east out of the Desert Southwest.

Forecasts do not show any unusually warm weather developing late April through early May. Weak cold fronts are forecast to continue moving south out of the Plains states going into May and this should keep summer-like temperatures away for a while longer.

 

Have a good weekend.

Bob