Summer arrived with a vengeance over the weekend. Temperatures spiked between 105 and 110 degrees across the northern Hill Country, in the area between San Angelo, Abilene and San Saba. Across the rest of the Hill Country, widespread triple-digit temperatures were quite common. Much of the rest of the region saw high temperatures in the mid and upper 90s. It’s hard to believe it is just early May.
The ridge of high pressure responsible for causing the unusually hot temperatures over the weekend has shifted a bit more to the east today, now stretching from the eastern half of Texas, to the Georgia and Florida. Despite this slight shift to the east, the ridge is still expected to have a strong influence on this afternoon’s weather. Meanwhile at the surface, gusty southerly winds continue to pull a very humid air mass north from the Gulf. The atmosphere remains quite stable and no rain or thunderstorms are forecast this afternoon and evening.
- Monday’s high temperatures are forecast to generally be in the upper 90s across the Hill Country and the Austin/Interstate 35 corridor, and in the mid-90s at most other locations.
- Lows Tuesday morning are forecast to be in the low 70s across the Hill Country, and in the mid-70s across the rest of the region.
Some minor changes in the pattern are forecast to take place Tuesday when a weak wave of low pressure lifts northeast into West Texas out of Mexico. This feature is forecast to cause scattered thunderstorm development along the dry line across West Texas Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday evening. These storms are forecast to mainly be confined to West Texas, although a few of the storms may track as far east as the western and northern Hill Country. This will be to the west of a line stretching from Brownwood, to Brady, Junction, and Rocksprings. Some of these storms may be severe, producing large hail and damaging winds.
Otherwise, Tuesday’s weather is forecast to again be mostly sunny and hot. High temperature are predicted to moderate down a couple of degree at most locations, with high temperatures generally in the mid-90s.
Wednesday through the upcoming weekend, few changes in the weather pattern are forecast. A ridge of high pressure is forecast to be over Texas, with troughs of low pressure situated across the western U.S. and the southeastern U.S. The persistent ridge is predicted to cause a pattern of mostly sunny, breezy, and hot weather through the period.
Daily high temperatures are forecast to generally be in the mid-90s. Nighttime temperatures are forecast to trend a little lower, thanks to a somewhat less humid flow of air off the Gulf. Low temperatures will range from the mid-60s across the Hill Country, to near 70 degrees towards the coast.
Looking ahead to next week, the ridge over Texas is forecast to shift further to the west early next week and this may allow a weak cold front to sink south across Texas next Monday. As of now, no rain is expected with the front as the atmosphere will be too dry and stable. The ridge is currently forecast to spread back across the Texas for the second half of the week.
High temperatures next week are shaping up to be quite hot—especially for the middle of May. Readings are forecast to reach up to near 98-100 degrees across the Hill Country and Central Texas regions, and to the mid and upper 90s across the coastal plains.
As of now, the long-range forecasts are not showing a break from this hot and dry pattern even into the following week.
Bob
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