TGIF! We have some beautiful changes heading our way just in time for the weekend. With high pressure now located over the southwestern United States, a large trough of dip in the jet stream across the central and eastern lower 48 are allowing for the change in our weather pattern. Upper level winds now blowing out of the north northwest over Texas, which helped to pull disturbances and a weak frontal boundary through the area over the past couple of days that worked to generate the showers and storms across the area are pulling a second, stronger cool front through the state now. The leading edge of the drier, continental air mass is now working its way through Waco and should arrive in Austin late afternoon into the evening. As the front moves through a scattered shower or storm is not out of the question, some of which may produce brief heavy rains and lightning. The drier and slightly cooler air is lagging a bit behind the leading edge of the front, but it will be here! Sultry dew points in the 60s and 70s all summer have made things feel like a sauna around here to say the least, dew points will be dropping into the 40s and 50s this weekend and virtually all the sticky air will be swept back down into the Gulf. Look for a mostly sunny and beautiful late summer/early fall weekend with highs in the upper 80s to near 90 and lows in the 60s...low-lying, out-lying areas may even dip into the upper 50s early Saturday morning. Won't that be nice! Unfortunately, the cooler/drier weather will not be sticking around for long, as southeasterly surface winds will return to the area by Sunday into next week allowing for Gulf air and 90s to return.
500mb (~18,500 feet elevation) height level and mid/upper level water vapor imagery for the lower 48...this map is very useful in finding areas of high/low pressure also seeing the amount of mid/upper level water vapor present in our atmosphere...this map does not show clouds
The image below is available for your viewing at anytime by clicking HERE
(Image is courtesy of the department of atmospheric sciences at the University of Arizona)
Something to keep an eye on:
With a front located over the Gulf of Mexico this time of year, it is always wise to watch for any sort of tropical development. A cold front essentially provides lift in the atmosphere which works to spark showers and storms and also works to add, in very simple terms, a bit of spin to the atmosphere. Just something to think about and watch as we head into next week. The major forecast models we look at do not show anything to be concerned with at this time, however, we all know how fast things can change in the world of weather.
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