January 30th, 2009 by Burton
What a view! Austinite Sam Cole snapped this spectacular photo of the city skyline along with crescent moon and neighboring planet Venus. You can see the two in beautiful proximity again tonight by
looking southwest right after our 6:06pm sunset.
Chilly morning temps quickly warm under total sunshine to low and mid 60s today — a perfect afternoon to head outdoors and a wonderful way to wrap up a week of crazy winter weather. February arrives Sunday with dismally low rain chances…
The last few mornings have been incredibly cold for many of us, some in a hard freeze again early this morning:
19 Fredericksburg
19 Jonestown
19 Rosanky
20 Wilbarger Crk@Elgin
21 Barton Crk@Oak Hill
21 Gilleland Crk@Manor
21 Spicewood
23 ABIA
23 Dripping Springs
23 Marble Falls
24 Burnet
25 Lakeway
After a mild day, we drop back into a light rural/suburban freeze by sunrise Saturday before southwest winds help us warm up to near a mild 70. Clouds gradually return Superbowl Sunday in advance of another cold front. It offers a slim chance for a few rainshowers Sunday night as it arrives.
Groundhog Day comes Monday and it’s going to be blustery cold, setting up for another widespread freeze Monday night — the coldest of the next eight days. We’ll find mild 60s much of the first week of February.
Winter Stats… January ends dry, with a rain deficit just over one inch in Austin and Waco, and high temps nearly seven degrees above normal in the Austin area. Our coldest temp of winter in Austin of 18 degrees (ABIA) came on Jan 14th. At Camp Mabry, the coldest of 28 occurred three times: Dec 22, Jan 28, Jan 29. Waco’s coldest of 22 also occurred three times: Dec 6, Dec 22, and Jan 29.
Enjoy your Friday and have a wonderful weekend.
Meteorologist
Burton Fitzsimmons
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January 28th, 2009 by Burton
Widespread freezing temps allowed for a mix of chilly light rain, freezing rain, and sleet overnight. It’s gone now, as patchy ice melts from Austin to Waco.
As early as 10pm last night, ice was reported across Williamson and McLennan counties, likely the cause of multiple collisions around Florence and Georgetown to Round Rock through midnight. By 2am, patches of ice were spotted in North Austin and they grew as temps dropped into mid 20s by daybreak in some spots. Use extra caution on sidewalks and other walkways, including the first step out your door, in addition to driving slower than normal.
Click here to email your photos of this winter storm!
Gusty north winds pushed early wind chill values into upper teens in some cases though have calmed since. Meanwhile, temps warm above freezing but continue cold through the afternoon. Highs temps end up near 50 today. Strong surface high pressure associated with this arctic air mass moves directly overhead tonight along with clear skies, calm winds, and dry air — the perfect setup for a widespread freeze! Expect to start Thursday close to 20 in isolated, protected valleys (especially north and west) with upper 20s in town.
Superbowl Sunday might be the next time it rains in Central Texas. Check in with the 8-day forecast for more on what to expect this weekend and through the end of January.
Keep warm and enjoy your Tuesday.
Meteorologist
Burton Fitzsimmons
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