Drought Relief!!!

Finally! Some much needed rainfall. While this is not drought-ending rainfall, it is definitely drought-denting rainfall. Several locations across the Hill Country from Mason and Gillespie counties all the way east to western Travis County have picked up anywhere from 2-7 inches of rainfall. While most of that rain will soak into the ground, the run-off will find its way into the Highland Lakes. The highest rainfall total I can find so far is 6.98 inches of rainfall 8 miles northeast of the small town of Harper in Gillespie County (northwest of Fredericksburg). A solid 1-3 inches of rainfall has fallen across the Austin Metro Area with a weather station at Barton Creek and Loop 360 measuring just over 3 inches of rainfall!

Rainfall Totals from across central Texas as of 4:00 p.m. Friday: 

Where is all this wonderful rain coming from? Well, we can actually give thanks to three key ingredients. If you can believe it, rich tropical moisture from the Pacific Ocean (remnants of Hurricane Manuel) that dropped copious rainfall amounts on western Mexico (including the Acapulco area) was pulled northeast towards Texas thanks to a dip in the jet stream across the central plains. That mid and upper level moisture combined with plenty of sticky Gulf of Mexico air and a late summer/early fall cold front are all working together to give us this wonderful rainfall event. Some of Austin's heaviest rainfall events have occurred due to this type of setup. The atmosphere is just so incredibly moist that it only takes a bit of lift for numerous showers and storms to develop.

Visible Satellite Image of Hurricane Manuel (earlier this week):

 
 As the cold front (currently located just northwest of central Texas) continues to push towards our area rain will continue to develop...the front should clear most, if not all of Central Texas by noon Saturday allowing for a drying trend to take hold. Northerly winds behind the front along with moist grounds will keep highs in the 80s for both Saturday and Sunday. Sunshine may return as early as Saturday afternoon for areas along and west of Interstate 35. We should see plenty of sun as we head into Saturday and much of next week as high pressure builds into the area behind the front. The lower humidity and clear skies will allow for comfortable mornings in the 60s starting as early as Sunday morning and continuing through early next week. Unfortunately, temps in the 90s will return for the start of next week, however, moisture levels are expected to be much lower than where they have been. 

Moisture levels (humidity) will begin to increase as we head into late next week and next weekend ahead of a possibly stronger cold front around October 2nd. 

Enjoy the rain and the slight cool down heading our way! Thankfully triple digits will not be back into the forecast until next year!

Light/moderate rain will continue on and off through the evening and into the overnight hours. I believe the heaviest rains are now going to be focused more so east of Austin and across southeast Texas.

Great Links: Just click on the words to go to the websites

LCRA Hydromet

Wundermap Radar