TODAY: HOTTEST IN MORE THAN 5 MONTHS{/strong}

The warmth and humidity moved in yesterday. Today, we add plenty of sunshine and a warm southwest wind to the mix to squeeze every last degree of heat out of the atmosphere. The end result will be record-shattering heat and our warmest weather since mid-October.

Temperatures soar this afternoon as sunshine breaks out with highs in the low to mid-90s. Austin will likely be the hot spot with a forecast high of 94, easily beating the daily record of 90 set back in 1974.

FANTASTIC SATURDAY WEATHER{/strong}

This cold front does bring a noticeable drop in temperatures and humidity, though that comfy air only sticks around for about a day and a half. We’ll wake up to temperatures in the 50s Saturday morning with afternoon mid-80s feeling very comfortable with continued low humidity. Absolutely perfect weather out at Zilker Park for kite fest!

During the day Sunday, winds switch out of the south and humidity will rapidly increase. That rising humidity will bring more clouds and a 30% chance for light rain to the forecast, but I don’t anticipate rain being heavy or widespread enough to cancel your weekend plans.

That building heat and humidity once again sets the stage for record heat through the first half of next week. Highs will soar to the low and mid 90s on Monday and Tuesday.

STORMY APRIL PATTERN AHEAD{/strong}

For the first time in a very long time, optimism abounds in the extended forecast. Confidence is increasing in a stormy weather pattern setting up shop over Texas by the latter half of next week.

It really looks like a classic set-up with a slow-moving upper-level trough of low pressure developing to our west/southwest by the end of next week. That widespread lift in the atmosphere, a cold front at the surface, and lots of moisture through the entire vertical atmosphere should combine for widespread rain and storms beginning Thursday.

Exact timing, accumulation, and other threats (severe storms and/or flooding) are difficult to pinpoint this early on. However, I think we finally see enough rain locally to ease our local drought concerns. Stay tuned!

LAKE LEVELS{/strong}

Lake Travis is falling slowly with an elevation of 638.6 feet (45% full, 30 feet below average)

Lake Buchanan is falling slowly with an elevation of 1001.4 feet (58% full, 10 feet below average)