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Downtown Austin, seen here from the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail along Lady Bird Lake, has a microclimate that is influenced by the urban heat island effect.<\/p>\n
Sara Diggins\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t have to drive very far in Austin to notice a change in the weather. One neighborhood may be several degrees warmer than another just 15 to 20 miles away. Meanwhile, one side of town can pick up a downpour for an hour but another area in the city limits stays completely dry.<\/p>\n
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That\u2019s because Austin sits at the crossroads of two distinct climate zones: the humid, warm Coastal Plains to the east and the drier, higher-elevation Texas Hill Country to the west. Combine that with the urban heat island effect, and you get a set of unique microclimates that can make the weather feel surprisingly different from one side of town to the other.<\/p>\n
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TEXAS FLOODS: What\u2019s \u2018flash flood alley\u2019 and why is Austin and our region of Texas so prone to flooding?<\/a><\/p>\n Luckily, those differences are easy to measure because Austin has two main climate observation sites: one just west of downtown at Camp\u00a0Mabry and another at\u00a0Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, about 8 miles southeast of downtown.<\/p>\n What are microclimates?<\/p>\n A microclimate is a small, localized area where weather factors, including temperature, wind, humidity and rainfall, can be noticeably different from the surrounding region. These differences are often influenced by geography, topography, urban development, green spaces and trees. \u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Austin geography and topography<\/p>\n Austin sits along the\u00a0Balcones Escarpment, creating a significant change in elevation from the western part of the metropolitan area to the east. The roughly 400-foot elevation difference between\u00a0Lakeway and Austin helps shape the rolling terrain and picturesque landscape that make Austin sunsets so spectacular.<\/p>\n A boat is seen driving on Lake Austin in Austin. Western Travis County features hilly, rocky limestone terrain and is typically less humid because of its proximity to drier West Texas air.<\/p>\n Mikala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n The western area features hilly, rocky limestone terrain and is typically less humid because of its proximity to drier West Texas air. The hills, valleys, and dense tree canopy can also help keep temperatures slightly cooler.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/p>\n