Shown is the expected mid-atmospheric weather pattern by late Tuesday and early Wednesday, as high pressure develops over Texas.
Pivotal Weather
This week, a strong area of high pressure — often referred to as a heat dome — will settle over Texas.
High-pressure systems cause air to sink through the atmosphere. As the air sinks, it compresses and warms, raising temperatures at the surface. The high pressure also acts like a “lid” preventing the hot air from rising, cooling, or dissipating.
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The result? Much of the state will experience several days of hot, humid and rain-free conditions over the next week, with some areas across Texas likely to reach the triple digits. How hot will temperatures rise in San Antonio? Here’s what you can expect.
Sunday’s forecast
Mild and muggy conditions are expected early Sunday, as temperatures across South Texas likely hover in the mid- to upper 70s though 9 a.m. Cloudy skies are expected early on, but the afternoon will see some clearing, allowing for partly to mostly sunny skies to return.
Temperatures will rise steadily, reaching about 90 degrees by 1 p.m. before highs top out at around 94 degrees by the late afternoon. Humidity levels will stay very high, resulting in “feels-like” temperatures up to 102 degrees.
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Heat index values are likely to rise to between 100 and 102 degrees late Sunday afternoon.
Pivotal Weather
The Hill Country will be slightly cooler, with high temperatures expected to reach near 90 degrees in Kerrville and Fredericksburg. That said, heat index values are still expected to rise near the century mark.
Due to high moisture levels in the atmosphere, temperatures will be slow to fall through the evening. San Antonio is still expected to be in the low 90s at 8 p.m., likely not falling below 85 degrees until nearly 11 p.m.
Continued heat this week
Strong high pressure is likely to shift into Texas, which will force temperatures to rise slightly throughout the week. On Monday, San Antonio high temperatures are expected near 95 degrees, likely rising to around 96 degrees by Tuesday and Wednesday.
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Morning low temperatures will be relatively comfortable throughout the week, falling to between 72 and 75 degrees each morning. Skies will also be mostly sunny each day, with little to no chance of any rainfall throughout South-Central Texas.
By Thursday and Friday, San Antonio temperatures are likely to rise another degree or two, likely topping out at 97 to 98 degrees.
Many other parts of Texas will see even hotter weather. This includes the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which is likely to see high temperatures between 101 and 104 degrees every day this week. Areas along the Rio Grande, from Eagle Pass to Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley, will also experience similar triple-digit heat.
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Long-range forecast
This pattern of hot and dry weather is likely to continue next weekend and potentially into the following week as well. According to the National Blend of Models, San Antonio is not likely to see any measurable rainfall over the next 10 days.
Temperatures may also continue to rise next week, as well. The Climate Prediction Center’s outlook for July 25-31 shows a very high chance of above-average temperatures across South Texas, and models indicate that San Antonio may reach the 100-degree mark for the first time this year.
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