AUSTIN, Texas — It has been a hot and muggy past few days here in Central Texas, and our heat continues to build through this weekend. In fact, we are forecasting our hottest weekend so far this year for Central Texas. Both Saturday and Sunday will reach the mid to upper 90s with heat index values possibly in the triple digits.
The mornings will begin with low clouds, but the afternoons will clear to a mostly sunny sky. Remember to be safe with the heat! Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and take multiple breaks if you're spending long periods of time outdoors!
A strengthening ridge of high pressure over the Lone Star State is responsible for our heat and humidity. It will only get hotter due to this weather pattern as highs soar to the mid- and upper 90s for Saturday and Sunday.
It's not out of the question that a few spots could make a run at 100 degrees over the weekend, especially on Sunday. The Austin area typically sees its first 100-degree day in early July, so this would be about a month ahead of schedule if any areas overachieve current forecast projections.
Subtle changes are on the way for the beginning of next week. The ridge of high pressure responsible for the heat will nudge slightly westward. This will open up the door for small rain chances and a very small cooldown starting on Monday.
For the first half of next week, highs will "fall" to the low to mid-90s with a stray shower or storm possible each day. Even given these rain chances, any rainfall accumulation should stay largely under a tenth of an inch through the next seven days.
The KVUE Weather Team will continue to monitor the forecast closely.
In the meantime, here is a look at your extended forecast:
