Not A Typo: 'Cold Front' Headed To Austin Region This Week

AUSTIN, TX — The term 'cold front' is largely relative, more so when referenced in the midst of a Texas summer. But we'll take it.

Forecasters are employing the term in predicting imminent weather this week, particularly Monday and Tuesday when a chance of thunderstorms emerges. Those chances are an anemic 40 percent but, again, we'll take it. That storm formation will bring this so-called "cold front" to the region, which merely means — for the purposes of context in the throes of a two-week streak of nearly soul-sucking triple-digit heat — that temps will fall back down to normal summer levels.

By "normal," forecasters mean 95 or so. That's neither cold nor what one might traditionally think of as a cold front. But, again: We'll take it.

According to the National Weather Service, Monday will be (surprise, surprise) "sunny and hot," with a high near 103 degrees. The wind will be unforgivably negligible yet again, blowing at the annoyingly snail-like pace of 5 miles per hour.

"You call this a cold front?!?!" you might be asking, with understandable and justifiable anger. No, it's not. But wait: By Monday night, a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms will figure in the mix under mostly cloudy skies.

As a result, the low temperature will be (brace yourself) 75 degrees! Southeast winds will be 5 miles per hour, but could become northeast winds after midnight that could reach 10 miles per hour!

That's not all: On Tuesday, the 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms continues! Forecasters say it will be partly sunny with a high near 95! The heat index values could make that feel like 99 degrees, forecasters say!

A heat index of 99 degrees doesn't sound all that appealing, but if you consider the ones we've had of late with temperatures in the triple digits, it's a welcome change. We'll take it.

Tuesday night will be partly cloudy with a low of around 73 degrees, with east/northeast winds of about 5 miles per hour.

Here's what the forecast calls for in the remaining portion of the week, according to the National Weather Service:

• Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Wednesday night to be mostly clear, with a low around 73. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south after midnight.
• Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. South wind around 5 mph becoming east southeast in the afternoon. Thursday night partly cloudy, with a low around 74. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south after midnight.
• Friday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 99 with Friday night mostly clear, with a low around 76.
• Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Saturday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 76.

So, at least for now — after some two weeks of triple-digit heat and nary a drop of rain in the region for some three weeks — it would appear that our long, municipal nightmare is over. At least for now, anyway. Of course, we still have August with which to contend. Sorry.

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