Brief Warm-Up before a BIG Cool Down

We are currently sitting at 65°F here in the city of Austin at Camp Mabry with 66°F out along the runway at the airport. Today is the first day we have been above normal since Christmas Day! The average high for this time of year is 61°F. We will be climbing at least 10°F above normal over the next couple of days. I'm expecting highs to climb into the 70s for Friday and Saturday ahead of a strong cold front that will arrive late Saturday evening with a chance for showers and thunderstorms. The chance of rain looks to be near 50% for Saturday evening into the early morning hours of Sunday. Honestly, it does not look like we are going to see much in the way of significant rainfall. Highs Sunday through Tuesday of next week do not look to get out of the 40s with overnight lows dipping into the 30s.

Forecast Radar Saturday evening:

Accumulated Precipitation between now and Monday: (0.25-0.50 inches possible)

Let's talk warmer temperatures. Both the GFS and the NAM computer models put us in the middle 70s for tomorrow. The record high for Friday is 85°F set back in 1990; we will not come close to that. South to southwesterly surface winds and strong southwesterly winds around 5,000 feet aloft will allow for the warmer conditions. Warm air will be forced northward off of the Mexican Deserts ahead of our fast approaching disturbance and cold front that will bring a chance for showers and storms late Saturday. Skies will not be perfectly sunny on Friday thanks to those southwesterly winds aloft that will be carrying high clouds across the region from time to time off of the Pacific Ocean.

Friday Highs:

850mb Temperature/Wind Map (Forecasted temp/wind at 5000 feet aloft):

Forecast models push the front through the Hill Country Saturday evening...along the Interstate 35 corridor late Saturday evening...through the remainder of south central Texas by midnight...Behind the front temps will fall into the 40s.