Updated: 07/29/2010 08:47 AM
Rain Wraps, Heat Picks Up
We've relished a rainy week but now it's back to reality as hot, dry weather typical of the season returns to Texas. It's the beginning of a new heat wave that looks to swelter us through the statistical peak of summer in Austin, August 6-7.
There may be a few sprinkles at times this morning and an isolated shower or two this afternoon, but today's overall rain chance is much lower at 20%. Futurecast shows clouds gradually breaking by afternoon, so we'll expect high temps up to the mid 90s. A wealth of humidity could make it feel like low 98-105.
An upper-level disturbance moved into Texas this past weekend and has since swirled mostly northwest of Austin in the last several days, keeping the atmosphere mostly unstable. It's been a major contributor to the rain! Now, that storm is nudging into New Mexico and high pressure appears to be strengthening to our east, as expected, and it's heading our way.
We held off as long as we could but looks like the cork's about to pop: our first 100s in Austin this year appear on the forecast as early as this weekend! Make your plans accordingly. Be sure to provide shade and plenty of hydration and/or opt to stay indoors during the hot afternoon hours.
But at Night... Now that we're clearing out the clouds, take a look west after sunset for a treat overhead: there's a chance to see Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Saturn. A rare conjunction of planets currently underway will peak August 12-13 according to astronomers. Eight nights ago, Jia Hao of Java, Indonesia, took this very impressive photo from about 10,000 feet. We'll share more details and photos between now and then.
Speaking of Cool Photos... A nearly 200,000 mile tall prominence darted out of the surface of the sun yesterday and was captured by Alan Friedman of Buffalo, NY. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory also recorded this impressive movie.
Tropics... Very little activity can be seen in the Atlantic and Pacific right now, with one lone storm cluster near the coast of Africa posing absolutely no threat to land right now. But don't let your guard down: statistics show August is almost always more active in the tropics than July. Watch our complete Tropical Update each hour at :48 past on Weather on the Eights.
Enjoy your Thursday.
Chief Meteorologist Burton Fitzsimmons