Saturday’s cold front brought the first significant rain of December to our region. Totals generally ranged between 0.25 and 0.75 inches across the eastern Hill Country, between 1 and 3 inches across Central Texas and between 0.5 and 1.5 inches across the middle Texas coast. Unfortunately, most totals across the western and northern Hill Country were less than a quarter inch. The highest observed totals occurred across parts of Travis and Williamson Counties, where totals of 3-4 inches were recorded. Some light precipitation occurred Sunday into Sunday night, but not wintery weather was observed across the Hill Country or Central Texas.
Much cooler air, more typical of December, spread into the region behind Saturday’s cold front. Following a week with temperatures near 80 degrees, this cool down was quite a change! As of midday Monday, clouds were clearing across the eastern half of the state as a trough of low pressure lifts off to the northeast. In the wake of the trough, a ridge of high pressure over northern Mexico is quickly spreading across Texas, causing the development of a stable and quiet weather pattern. Forecasts call for the ridge to hold across Texas throughout the week and into the weekend of Christmas. No rain is forecast this afternoon, this week, and through the upcoming weekend.
The biggest change in the weather this week will be the quick return of unseasonably warm temperatures. A dome of Canadian high pressure is forecast to remain over Texas into Tuesday, causing seasonal temperatures. However, the high is precited to move off to the east Tuesday afternoon, causing a return of southerly breezes and warming temperatures. Sunny conditions are forecast this afternoon and Tuesday. Beginning Wednesday, much of Central Texas and the coastal region will see a pattern of late night and morning clouds, followed by mostly sunny conditions in the afternoon.
- High temperatures this afternoon are forecast to be near 58-60 degrees, warming to the low and mid-60s Tuesday.
- High temperatures Wednesday are forecast to be near 70-72 degrees, warming to the mid-70s Thursday.
- High temperatures Friday, Christmas Day, and Sunday are forecast to be close to 80 degrees.
- Lows Tuesday morning are forecast to be in the low and mid-30s across the Hill Country and in the mid and upper 30s across Central Texas and the middle Texas coast.
- Lows Wednesday morning will range from the upper 30s west, to the mid-40s near the coast.
- Lows Thursday morning are forecast to be in the upper 40s to low 50s.
- Lows Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings are predicted to generally be in the mid and upper 50s.
Looking ahead to next week, no big changes in the weather pattern are expected. Forecasts do call for a Pacific cold front to push across the region sometime next Tuesday with little to no rain. The front is expected to bring a slight cool down, with highs in the low 70s and lows around 58-60 degrees for Wednesday and Thursday. There are indications a stronger cold front will push through our area New Year’s Eve, causing a few showers. Cooler temperatures look to follow New Year’s Day into early January.
Winter Solstice Arrives Tuesday
The winter solstice occurs Tuesday morning, December 21st, at 9:59 am CST. The solstice is when the sun reaches its most southerly point on the sky’s dome for the year. At the solstice, the Northern Hemisphere has its shortest day and longest night of the year. The Southern Hemisphere has its longest day and shortest night. After the winter solstice, the days will slowly get longer, and the nights shorter. In Austin, total daylength on Tuesday, the winter solstice, will be 10 hours and 11 minutes. On the summer solstice, daylength is 14 hours and 6 minutes.
Have a good week.
Bob
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