Roller Coaster Temperatures

After setting a record breaking high of 99ºF this afternoon, beating the previous record of 98ºF set all the way back in 1912, relief is on the way. The leading edge of our first fall cold front is currently pushing through northwest Texas and is already dropping temperatures into the 60s across Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. Ahead of the front scattered showers and thunderstorms have developed across northwest Texas and are beginning to push south into portions of the northwestern Hill Country on this Sunday evening.

Temperatures as of 7pm Sunday Evening (courtesy of Wright-Weather) 

The much anticipated cold front will arrive in Austin around midnight. There is the possibility for a shower or brief storm to accompany the frontal passage, but the best chance for rain will remain north and west of Austin. Breezy northerly winds behind the front will usher in the coolest air we have seen since early May. We will wake up to temperatures in the 60s area wide with afternoon highs only managing the 70s for most locations, lower 80s for some, on Monday afternoon. Temperatures early Tuesday morning will be able to drop even further into the upper 50s to lower 60s across the area before temperatures begin to quickly heat up by mid-week back into the 90s, record territory, ahead of a second stronger cold front that will approach the area late Thursday evening and arrive early Friday. This front looks to bring an even more significant and longer lasting cool down along with a slightly better chance for precipitation. Afternoon highs in the 60s will be possible on Friday with a gusty north wind, clouds and rain showers making it feel even colder with overnight lows dropping into the 50s by Saturday morning with afternoon highs remaining quite comfortable in the 70s for next weekend and morning lows in the 40s and 50s. Ahhhh!! We definitely deserve that! 

While these fronts will be bringing us some heat relief, unfortunately they do not look to bring us widespread, significant rainfall to relieve ongoing drought conditions across the area. Many areas across the state have slipped into severe to extreme drought conditions. 

Latest Drought Monitor (as of October 3rd)