textproduct: Austin/San Antonio

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 628 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

- Yes to the heat. No to rain chances. Pattern persists for many days. Stay safe and hydrated.

SHORT TERM

(Tonight through Wednesday night) Issued at 131 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

Hot, hot, hot. That's the story and it won't be changing much through late August. In the short term, Subtropical ridging is still in control over the southern and southwestern CONUS. This is expected to keep hot and dry weather in place for South Central Texas in the short term. Highs will easily climb into the upper 90s to around 103 today, with borderline Heat Advisory level temps along the I-35 corridor and east into the Coastal Plains. Opted to lower dewpoints and blend with CONSall as the NBM operational has continued to run a couple of degrees too high since the start of this more Summer-like pattern. This acts to mix things out a bit more in the afternoons which is typical once we've had a couple weeks straight of hot and dry weather.

LONG TERM

(Thursday through next Tuesday) Issued at 131 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

The Subtropical ridge will actually start to strengthen a bit and move further east and center over Texas by Friday and into the weekend. Heat Advisories will likely be needed either starting Thursday or Friday as ambient air temperatures will be hot enough to reach criteria, particularly in the Austin metro where highs between 102-105 are possible Thursday-Sunday. There isn't much more to note here other than continued hot weather expected to last through at least late August per the long range guidance from the ECMWF Ens and GEFS. Continue to practice heat safety and find ways to keep cool.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 628 PM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

VFR conditions likely continue through the next 30 hours. Seabreeze will briefly increase southeast winds at KSAT/KSSF 02Z-06Z before light to VRB flow prevails. Conditions look drier compared to previous nights, so no CIGs are expected. However, FEW to SCT low clouds may develop mainly east of KAUS/KSAT/KSSF before clearing. TAFs indicate the most likely FLs for clouds, though it would not be a surprise if all sites maintained SKC up to FL250 throughout the night. South to southeast winds reestablish in the afternoon.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Austin Camp Mabry 79 103 77 104 / 0 0 0 0 Austin Bergstrom Intl Airport 77 102 77 102 / 0 0 0 0 New Braunfels Muni Airport 76 102 75 102 / 0 0 0 0 Burnet Muni Airport 76 101 75 101 / 0 0 0 0 Del Rio Intl Airport 76 102 78 102 / 0 0 0 0 Georgetown Muni Airport 78 102 77 102 / 0 0 0 0 Hondo Muni Airport 75 101 74 102 / 0 0 0 0 San Marcos Muni Airport 76 102 75 102 / 0 0 0 0 La Grange - Fayette Regional 77 102 76 102 / 0 0 0 0 San Antonio Intl Airport 77 101 77 101 / 0 0 0 0 Stinson Muni Airport 77 103 76 103 / 0 0 0 0

EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

None.