Gear up for a week of weather changes in Austin! From 93 highs sliding to cooler nights, we lay down what to expect and how to stay safe.

This week in Austin, expect a mix of mostly sunny and stormy skies. With the UV index hitting an extreme, it’s crucial to manage your sun exposure. By the weekend, anticipate a cooler turn with possible rain showers enhancing the chances of a pleasant cooldown. Full insights on these patterns are detailed in our extended discussion to help you plan effectively. On the Regional Radar, we see rain showers approaching from El Paso moving eastward towards Midland. Patchy rainfall dots the area from Wichita to the north, with more concentrated precipitation churn over the Oklahoma-Kansas border and another over southern Louisiana, with showers around New Orleans heading east. Clear conditions dominate much of Texas and surrounding areas, with no immediate storm activity over Oklahoma City or Dallas. However, cloud cover begins to form over areas of southern New Mexico as systems gather potential.
In Austin this afternoon, temperatures are expected to reach a high of 93 degrees with mostly cloudy skies. Winds will be coming from the south-southeast at 11 miles per hour early in the afternoon, slightly calming to 10 miles per hour later. Expect a touch of sun peeking through the clouds by 8 PM as temperatures gradually dip to around 90 degrees.
Today’s regional high temperatures in the Southern Plains are soaring. In El Paso, expect a hot high of 98 degrees, while Midland heats up even more at 99 degrees. Dallas will reach 96, and San Antonio will see a high of 97 degrees. Meanwhile, further southeast, Little Rock is looking at 97 degrees, with Jackson just slightly cooler at 95. New Orleans rounds out the region with a high of 92 degrees, presenting a noticeable contrast to the drier heat in Texas.
Tonight, temperatures in the Southern Plains are mild but noticeably cooler than previous nights. Dallas will settle around 75 degrees, while Midland cools to 74. San Antonio expects a low of 77, and El Paso will see 72. Overall, the region is experiencing a gentle shift towards cooler overnight temperatures, providing a welcome reprieve from the heat.
Tomorrow in the Southern Plains, Dallas will reach a high of 98 degrees, significantly above average for this time of year. San Antonio is firing up, hitting a scorching 100 degrees, while Corpus Christi will top out at 92 degrees. El Paso is expected to warm up to 93, and Midland will see a high of 95 degrees. A strong ridge of high pressure is contributing to these elevated temperatures, providing clear skies and plenty of sunshine across the region.
A robust weather system will impact the Southern Plains tomorrow. Expect significant rainfall from Dallas to Corpus Christi, offering relief to dry conditions but potentially leading to localized flooding. Oklahoma City should prepare for possible severe thunderstorms, with a dynamic air mass creating storm potential. A cold front advancing from the northwest could trigger severe weather warnings by late evening, particularly in eastern Oklahoma and Texas. Temperatures will moderate slightly post-front, bringing cooler and drier conditions into the weekend.
Austin is experiencing a very high UV index of 8 today, with a burn time of just 17 minutes under direct sunlight. On Monday, the UV index will soar to an extreme level of 11, so be aware that sun exposure can result in a burn in only 11 minutes. It’s crucial to seek shade, wear protective gear, and apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen frequently!