Stormy Saturday

Hello everybody. Strong southerly winds today were feeding a surface area of low pressure across Colorado and the Texas Panhandle. Winds gusted as high as 35 mph here in the city at Camp Mabry and 37 mph along the runways at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Highs today climbed well into the middle and upper 70s across central Texas. We were running some 14-16 degrees above normal.

I'm monitoring a strong upper level low pressure system across southern California right now that will quickly approach Texas during the day on Friday and pass overhead by Saturday. Ahead of the area of low pressure Gulf of Mexico moisture will continue to pour into Texas on breezy/gusty southerly winds. As that storm system and its attendant frontal boundary approach the area I'm expecting showers and thunderstorms to develop as early as Saturday morning and persist through Saturday morning before skies rapidly clear on gusty northerly winds as much drier and cooler air infiltrates the region.

Upper Level Storm System:

 
Forecast Radar across the U.S. on Saturday:

The Storm Prediction Center has placed areas along and east of I-35 under the SLIGHT RISK CATEGORY for severe weather. The main threats from the storms that develop will be strong winds, hail, brief heavy rainfall, and cloud to ground lightning. Rainfall totals will likely be less than an inch across the area. The greatest threat for severe weather with this system will be east of Austin.

Severe Weather Risk Map:

Cool, dry air will filter into the state behind the storm system and set us up for a windy, sunny, and much cooler Sunday with highs in the 50s. Lows will drop into the 30s area wide Sunday night and highs will top out in the 50s on Monday under a sunny sky. Light freezes possible Monday and Tuesday nights. Christmas Day looks mostly sunny and cool with a high in the lower 60s.

Forecast Highs across the U.S. on Christmas Day: