COLD WEATHER is on the way!

It is hard to think about cold weather after yesterday's record breaking heat at both Camp Mabry and Austin Bergstrom. We officially topped out at 90°F at Camp Mabry which is actually 19 degrees above normal for this time of year. The old record was 86°F set back in 1938.

The majority of this week looks to be rather mild with slight rain chances entering the forecast as soon as Wednesday as southerly flow off of the Gulf of Mexico increases ahead of our next strong cold front that looks to arrive Friday afternoon. The "coolest" day between now and Friday looks to be Tuesday with many locations topping out in the upper 60s and lower 70s. Temperatures will start off in the 50s both Tuesday and Wednesday mornings before climbing into the 60s for Thursday and Friday mornings. Afternoon highs on Thursday will approach the 80 degree mark in spots. 

Check out the FRIGID Air north of the Canadian Border waiting to pour south into the lower 48: Temperatures are well below zero across a large portion of the Canada and Alaska. The coldest temperature I could find was -35°F in the Yukon Territory.

The ECMWF (European Forecast Model) wants to bring the Arctic Front into central Texas around 6 p.m. Friday evening. A line of fast moving showers and thunderstorms would be possible along the front. Behind the front temperatures would rapidly fall from the 70s into the 40s on a powerful north wind. This particular model has us waking up to temps in the 30s area wide with wind chills in the 20s on Saturday morning. Areas north and west may receive a freeze. Highs on Saturday would struggle to get out of the 40s. Lows would fall back into the lower to middle 30s Saturday night with highs struggling back into the 40s on Sunday.

The GFS (American Forecast Model) wants to bring the Arctic Front into central Texas closer late Friday evening into the early morning hours of Saturday. The GFS is forecasting temps to stay in the 40s all day Saturday with lows falling to near freezing across all of central Texas Saturday night. Highs on Sunday would struggle to get into the 40s under a cloudy sky. This cold air will push well south into Mexico.

Too early to say if wintry precipitation is going to be an issue for us here in Central Texas. Portions of north and west Texas may receive some snow. However, as of right now it does not look likely. What looks more likely is a cold rain to develop behind the front. The GFS Model is showing temperatures to be well above freezing by the time the rain would start falling. It is definitely something to keep an eye on. Of course this forecast is subject to change over the next several days.

Between now and next Monday the Weather Prediction Center is forecasting a good 1-1.5 inches of rain to fall in Central Texas: We will take it!!

***Just know that significantly colder weather is due to arrive this weekend***