The pattern is expected to remain hot enough that our first day of triple-digit heat this year could arrive during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, right on schedule for Austin\u2019s average date for its first 100-degree day.<\/p>\n
The next several days will be very familiar: Morning clouds will give way to plenty of afternoon sunshine with light south to southeast winds between 5 to 12 mph. Predawn temperatures will range from 76 to 79 degrees, while afternoon temps will range from 95 to 98 degrees. Heat index readings, or the humidity-driven “feels like” temperatures, will climb to 102 degrees.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rain chances will be few and far between. However, as a sprawling heat dome produced by high atmospheric pressure shifts farther east, it will open the door for a few isolated coastal showers Wednesday and Thursday, mainly east of Interstate 35.<\/p>\n
A heat dome is a strengthening upper-level ridge of high air pressure that acts like a lid on the atmosphere, suppressing widespread thunderstorm development while allowing temperatures to climb.<\/p>\n
Most of Central Texas, about 80% of the area, will stay dry. But if you\u2019re one of the lucky few who catch a shower, take advantage of it, and let Mother Nature do the watering by putting your patio plants outside for a refreshing drink.<\/p>\n
Heat will rule the upcoming holiday weekend with high temperatures closing in on the 100-degree mark. If you are planning to spend the time outside celebrating America\u2019s birthday, be sure to slather on the sunblock and seek shade and air conditioning as much as possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The broad ridge of high pressure will finally begin to show some weakness across Texas for the second half of the weekend and into early next week. This will result in the return of some scattered showers and thunderstorms.<\/p>\n
As we leave June behind, though, it\u2019s worth looking back at a month that was surprising. Despite ending on a hot and humid note, June was actually one of our wetter and cooler starts to summer in recent years.<\/p>\n