textproduct: Austin/San Antonio

KEY MESSAGES

- Above normal temperatures through Saturday followed by cooler temperatures late this weekend into early next week.

- Elevated fire weather conditions are possible Wednesday through Friday over western counties; then near critical to critical fire weather conditions will be possible over much of the area Saturday and Sunday.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Thursday) Issued at 1210 AM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

Increasing clouds and warm February lows in the mid 50s to low 60s are expected overnight. Winds lighten up by sunrise but the direction remains variable with more of a north to east wind in the western half of the CWA and a south to west wind in the east. A well defined dryline pushes into the southern Edwards Plateau this morning and into the Hill Country this afternoon. Wind is forecast to be lighter today than yesterday, though locally elevated fire weather conditions will still exist for locations that find themselves west of the dryline this afternoon. This feature will shift back west tonight with another cloudy and unseasonably warm night expected. Another series of shortwaves moves across the Southern and Central Plains Thursday bringing the dryline/Pacific front back into the area this time pushing even further east. Fortunately wind looks to still be light enough to temper any widespread fire weather concerns though locally elevated fire weather conditions will still remain possible. Highs Thursday will be in the 80s, with some locations in the Rio Grande Plains potentially hitting 90 degrees.

LONG TERM

(Thursday night through Tuesday) Issued at 1210 AM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

Friday will be similar to the previous day before a front pushes through the area late Friday night or early Saturday morning. There could be a few showers over the coastal plains Friday into Saturday ahead of this feature though most models keep precipitation closer to the coast or east of the area during this time. Dry air and breezy wind is expected Saturday in the wake of this frontal passage with at least elevated to near critical fire weather conditions expected this day. Temperatures will be slightly cooler Saturday, but we'll see a bigger cool down back into the 60s and low 70s for Sunday and Monday. Winds may still be breezy Sunday from the Hill Country east, but then relax for Monday for most areas as we have more influence of surface high pressure. Southerly wind returns to the area by Tuesday with broad mid-level troughing over the South Central Texas. Expect to see a quick warm up Tuesday into the middle of next week.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1210 AM CST Wed Feb 18 2026

Southerly winds are bringing IFR/MVFR CIGs. These conditions will spread to most areas overnight with brief LIFR CIGS possible early in the morning. A dryline filters into the Hill Country/Edwards Plateau on Wednesday bringing dry mainly northerly winds across those areas while southerly winds prevail elsewhere. The dryline and mixing will erode the CIGs/VSBYs to VFR. The dryline retreats to the northwest Wednesday night allowing southerly winds to bring MVFR/IFR CIGs most areas.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Austin Camp Mabry 83 64 84 57 / 0 0 0 0 Austin Bergstrom Intl Airport 83 62 84 56 / 0 0 0 0 New Braunfels Muni Airport 82 61 84 58 / 0 0 0 0 Burnet Muni Airport 81 59 80 52 / 0 0 0 0 Del Rio Intl Airport 85 56 87 55 / 0 0 0 0 Georgetown Muni Airport 83 62 83 54 / 0 0 0 0 Hondo Muni Airport 83 58 86 57 / 0 0 0 0 San Marcos Muni Airport 83 61 85 58 / 0 0 0 0 La Grange - Fayette Regional 81 64 83 60 / 0 0 0 0 San Antonio Intl Airport 82 61 84 60 / 0 0 0 0 Stinson Muni Airport 82 62 85 61 / 0 0 0 0

EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.