AUSTIN, Texas — The first 90-degree temperatures of the year have arrived. On Thursday, we topped out at 92 degrees at Camp Mabry. Friday will reach the mid- to upper 90s ahead of a storm threat for late Friday afternoon and Friday evening.
Friday afternoon will approach record warmth for the Austin area with a high temperature of 96 degrees expected. The current daily record is 98 degrees, set just last year.
The average first 90-degree day for Austin is around April 14, so this year is running about a week ahead of schedule.
In addition to the heat, we're also monitoring the potential for an isolated strong to severe storm between about 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday evening. The Storm Prediction Center includes areas north and east of Austin in the "marginal" – level 1 of 5 – threat for severe weather.
The question will be whether or not any storms are able to develop in the first place. The chance of any storms at all remains fairly low with only a 20% chance along and east of Interstate 35. With that being said, if any storms manage to develop, they could quickly become severe with large hail and perhaps damaging winds.
Very high instability will build Friday afternoon ahead of a dry line. However, an atmospheric "cap" may prevent storms from developing at all. This is why the storm chance remains low despite having the right ingredients in place.
Regardless, there is still a chance for a severe storm or two Friday evening, so make sure you have a way to receive warnings just in case a severe storm develops.
A cold front will then move through overnight with a small shower chance for our eastern areas, but any showers should be over by the time most wake up Saturday morning.
Behind the front, the weekend looks great with sunshine and highs in the 80s. A more unsettled pattern sets up the middle of next week with scattered showers and storms back in the forecast.
The KVUE Storm Team will continue to monitor this developing forecast.
In the meantime, the extended forecast can be found below:
