Morning Fog Will Usher In Unseasonably Warm Friday In Austin

AUSTIN, TEXAS — It's the end of November, and it's supposed to be cold this time of year. But, clearly, Mother Nature didn't get the memo.

The high temperature on Friday is expected to reach nearly 80 degrees — unseasonably warm, even by Texas standards — according to the National Weather Service (NWS). There's something else you should know about Friday, actually two things: Fog will emerge before 9 a.m., limiting visibility, and there's a slight chance (20 percent) of showers.

So you might be extra cautious as you drive to work, drop the kids off at school or drive to your other destinations. Otherwise, it's expected to be mostly cloudy with gentle winds from a southerly direction blowing between 5 and 10 miles per hour. By nightfall, that 20 percent chance of rain will still be in effect with the added possibility of thunderstorms. It'll be mostly cloudy, NWS forecasters say, then gradually becoming mostly clear with a low of 56 degrees.

But back to that near-80 temp forecast for Friday. Forecasters are sticking to their guns in forecasting a high of 78 degrees for the day, but that could go higher given the mercurial nature of Texas weather.

Here's some historical perspective on that forecast: Average weather in November historically sees daily high temperatures decreasing 9 degrees, from 76 degrees to 68 degrees, according to the Weather Spark. Conversely, Weather Spark adds, daily low temps decrease by 8 degrees — from 57 degrees to 48 degrees.

So while the low expected on Friday of 56 degrees is in line with historical patterns, that 78 degrees is a tad out of whack. But the balmy weather this time of year is not unprecedented. According to the Current Resultswebsite, nearly every November day warms to more than 50 degrees in Austin. Yet the city historically averages six days in November when the thermometer reaches into the 80s. By this time of year, temperatures of 90 degrees and above occur only once a decade, according to Current Results.

Yet even if it were to reach or exceed 78 degrees on Friday, it likely won't shatter the record high for Nov. 30. That honor goes to Nov. 30, 1950, when the high reached 83 degrees, according to records kept by Intellicast. Just for grins, you might be interested to learn the record low temperature on this date (Nov. 30) in Austin is 20 degrees, achieved in 1976.

Which isn't to say it won't be balmy for this time of year. The average high for November historically in Austin is 71 degrees, according to Intellicast.

The rest of the weekend forecast, according to NWS forecasters is as follows:

• Saturday will be sunny, with a high temperature of 77 degrees and west wind between 5 and 10 miles per hour. Saturday night's low will be around 50 degrees, with a nearly imperceptible wind of 5 miles per hour.
• Sunday will be nearly a carbon copy: Sunny with a high near 76 degrees with a west/southwest wind of around 5 miles per hour. Nightfall will be partly cloudy with a low of around 51 degrees, and south winds will blow at around 5 miles per hour, becoming north winds after midnight.

Let's get back to that fog expected on Friday morning. Given the rarity of fog in these parts, it's important to take extra precautions in driving through that meteorological pea soup. Traveler's Insurance offers some tips to motorists driving through fog:

• "Slow down. Driving at normal speeds in fog can be very dangerous. Be sure to slow down so you have more time to react if traffic stops or other hazards appear. When visibility is severely limited, find a safe place to park, away from travel lanes, and wait for conditions to improve."
• "Always headlights, never brights. Avoid using high-beam headlights in fog as fog consists of tiny water droplets that spread and reflect light. While your high beams are not useful in the fog, remember to turn on your low-beam headlights to help other drivers see you."
• "Stay focused on the road. Driving in fog is not a time for multi-tasking. Turn down the radio, stop conversations with other passengers and keep your attention on the road. Roll down your window to help you hear other traffic on the road."

For more tips on driving in severe weather such as heavy winds and heavy rain, click here.

Map via National Weather Service

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