Weekend warriors should keep an eye on the sky Saturday, with rain and thunderstorms possible across Central and South Texas.
Thursday's passage of a weak cold front brought pockets of heavy rainfall of up to 2 inches in spots and strong winds, including a 33-mph gust at Austin Executive Airport in eastern Travis County.
Similar conditions are possible Saturday as the boundary of a nearby front and daytime heating trigger widely scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the afternoon and early evening. Storm chances are around 30%, indicating fewer widespread storms than on Thursday or Friday. The temperature on Saturday will be cooler than normal because of the cloudiness and whatever rain does fall. Expect peak afternoon temperatures to range from only 91 to 95 degrees.
While no severe weather, such as hail or damaging winds, is expected, gusty winds of 30 to 40 mph and lightning are possible with any thunderstorm. Keep this in mind if you plan to be out on the Highland Lakes this weekend.
The odds of a boat being struck by lightning are about 1 in 1,000, according to the boating resource group BoatUS. A lightning strike can be catastrophic, especially if it sparks a fire or damages onboard electronics.
If you see towering clouds and it's thundering in the distance, it's best to pack up and head to shore. Remember, lighting can strike up to 12 miles from a thunderstorm.
However, if you're stuck out on the water, here are some ways to stay safe:
The subtropical ridge of high atmospheric pressure over the Four Corners region in the desert Southwest will push east on Sunday and build back over our area, bringing dry weather and partly cloudy skies. Temperatures will climb a few degrees with afternoon highs in the middle to upper 90s.
Next week will be interesting as we watch a cold front dive south of Canada and bring a tiny taste of fall to parts of the Great Lakes, Midwest and Northeast, where afternoon temperatures will be in the 60s.
While the really big temperature changes are staying north of the Lone Star State, we can get excited about possible afternoon highs in the 80s by the middle of next week, along with the daily rain chances. The outlook for the next six to 10 days from the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center (from Aug. 27 to Aug. 31) reflects this anticipated dip in temperatures next week.
The big question remains: What part of Texas will see 80-degree temperatures? The latest forecast models have the front stalling in North Texas, which means Dallas and Fort Worth will feel the most relief from heat while Central and South Texas temps will still in the 90s, albeit below average.
We are still days away from knowing precisely what the temperatures will be or where the front will end up, but it's never too early to start putting out "fall vibes" into the air, especially since pumpkin spice latte season officially begins next week.