Quiet weather has returned to Central Texas in the wake of Sunday’s strong cold front. Unfortunately, rainfall along the front totaled just a few hundredths of an inch, although Bay City recorded a total of 0.90 inches. Very strong winds developed behind the front as a large area of Canadian high pressure sank southeast into the state. Winds gusted to 35-45 mph across the region Sunday afternoon into Sunday evening. Austin-Bergstrom Airport recorded a peak gust of 52 mph Sunday afternoon–the highest gust recorded across Central Texas. Winds diminished overnight as the pressure gradient relaxed across the state. Temperatures fell below freezing across the Hill Country Monday morning. Across Central Texas and the middle Texas coast, low temperatures were generally in the mid-30s to low 40s.
As of midday Monday, satellite images showed a clear sky across the Hill Country and all of western Texas. However, an area of low clouds blanketed parts of Central and Southeast Texas associated with some lingering low-level moisture. These clouds are forecast to thin, with the sky coming sunny this afternoon. But despite the sunshine, today’s temperature looks to stay chilly, with reading peaking only around 50-52 degrees. Expect a light northeasterly wind at 5-10 mph. Low clouds will return off the Gulf of Mexico this evening and overnight in advance of a trough of low pressure diving southeast out of the southern Rockies. Some patchy drizzle will be possible across the coastal plains towards daybreak. Lows Tuesday morning will include the low 30s across the Hill Country, the mid-30s across Central Texas and be near 38-40 degrees towards the coast.
The southern Rockies trough will help push a cold front across our region Tuesday. The front is forecast to move across the Hill Country Tuesday morning, the Central Texas region Tuesday afternoon, reaching the coastal plains Tuesday evening. No rain is expected with the front when it moves across the Hill Country and Central Texas regions due to limited moisture. However, there will be a 40 percent chance for scattered light rain showers for areas south of Interstate 10 Tuesday morning through late Tuesday afternoon. Rain amounts should total around a tenth of an inch. Morning clouds will gradually give way to mostly sunny conditions in the afternoon. Expect northwesterly winds to increase to 10-15 mph behind the cold front Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday night. High temperatures Tuesday will be around 60-62 degrees. Lows Wednesday morning will include the upper 20 and low 30s across the Hill Country, the mid-30s across Central Texas and the upper 30s towards the coast.
Sunny and cool weather will be in place behind the cold front Wednesday through Thursday. It will be breezy Wednesday, with northerly winds at 10-15 mph. High temperatures Wednesday will be in the low and mid-50s. Highs Thursday will be around 58-60 degrees.
A freeze is predicted for the entire region Wednesday night. Lows Thursday morning will include the mid and upper 20s across the Hill Country, the upper 20s to 30 degrees across Central Texas and the low 30s for the coastal plains. Lows Friday morning will include the mid-30s west and central, with upper 30s for the coastal region. High temperatures Friday will be in the low 60s.
Anther trough of low pressure is forecast to swing southeast out of the southern Rockies Friday into Saturday, helping to push another cold front across the state. In advance of the trough, clouds will increase and the sky will become mostly cloudy Friday. The cold front is predicted to move across the Hill Country late Friday night, the central Texas region after daybreak on Saturday and the coastal region around midday. There will be a slight chance for a few light rain showers for areas along and east of Interstate 35 late Friday night into Saturday morning. Rain amounts, however, should only total around a tenth of an inch or less.
Sunny conditions will follow the cold front Saturday afternoon through Sunday. Do note the air behind this next front is not expect to be all that cold. High temperatures Saturday and Sunday will be in the low and mid-60s. Lows Sunday morning will range from the low and mid-30s west to the lower 40s near the coast.
Looking ahead to next week, sunny, dry and mild weather is forecast Monday through Wednesday. High temperatures are predicated to be in the upper 60s to low and mid-70s, while low temperatures will be in the 40s to low 50s.
Forecasts call for a cold front to move across the region next Thursday, bringing a chance for rain showers to the region. Rain amounts are not expected to be all that heavy. Dry and cooler weather will follow Christmas Day and the following weekend with high temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s and low temperatures in the 30s.
Have a good week.
Bob
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