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The first 90-degree temperatures of 2021 are knocking on the door. Temperatures have been steadily warming through the 80s each afternoon for the first half of the week, and by Thursday and Friday, we're expecting highs in the low 90s.
Although about a week ahead of schedule for the average first 90-degree day of the year, we're not expecting record heat for the Austin area. The current forecast calls for a high of 93 degrees on Thursday, which would be 2 degrees shy of the daily record of 95 from last year.
The forecast high for Friday is 94 degrees. This is also short of the daily record of 98 degrees from back in 1963. Regardless, it's going to be hot!
Heat and humidity have been building all week long, but a weak frontal boundary brought in a drier air mass Wednesday afternoon.
Thursday will be completely dry with mostly sunny skies and highs in the 90s. Likewise, we're expecting even hotter temperatures on Friday just ahead of another system that will bring a chance for strong storms Friday afternoon and Friday night.
As of now, it appears the main risk for severe weather will remain east of the KVUE area. With that being said, the Storm Prediction Center includes the northeastern corner of our area in the "marginal" – level 1 of 5 – risk for severe storms Friday and Friday night. Milam County is clipped by the "slight" – level 2 of 5 – risk.
The severe weather threat here in Central Texas will be conditional, and will depend on if the system can sync up with the right severe weather ingredients. If the timing allows for severe weather, the main threats will be large hail and gusty winds but, at this point, strong storms are not a guarantee.
Behind the late week system, temperatures trend cooler over the weekend, but will remain above average for the time of the year, with highs still in the 80s.
The KVUE Storm Team will continue to closely monitor this developing forecast. Keep up to date by downloading the KVUE app: kvue.com/app. Also be sure to follow KVUE on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
In the meantime, the extended forecast can be found below:
