Rainfall Expected In Austin Area Through Midweek

AUSTIN, TX — If rainy days and Mondays always get you down, you're in for a double whammy this week. Late morning rain that descended on the city to start off the work week is expected to linger into evening and middle of the week.

The National Weather Service says showers are likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 p.m.

— a prognostication easily confirmed by poking one's head outside to see the substantial rainfall that started falling across the Austin region late morning, as Patch has done to confirm reports of rain. Forecasters noted this is but the first wave, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms expected between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., followed with a possibility of a thunderstorm after 4 p.m.

The skies were cloudy on Monday, with the temperature expected to dip to around 54 degrees by 5 p.m. The north wind will register at around 10 miles per hour, with the chance of precipitation at 60 percent and new rainfall amounts between one-tenth and a quarter-inch — and possibly higher in some areas.

Surely the rain will have dissipated after today, you might think. An umbrella won't be needed close at hand, and the best shoes won't be compromised by puddles, you also might think. Well, think again.

Chances of remain remain high into Monday night, forecasters said. Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1 a.m., giving way to likely showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 4 a.m. It will be cloudy, with a low around 45 degrees, with wind velocity unchanged. The chance of precipitation for Monday night: 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch are expected except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms, forecasters said.

Oh but the coast will surely be clear after Monday night, you might be thinking. Sunday, after all, was spring-like. Surely that delightful weather will return by Tuesday.

No.

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm are expected on Tuesday, with a high near 52 degrees. Oh, and the chance of precipitation will have grown to 90 percent. That's ninety percent, which is 10 percent less than 100 percent. By Tuesday night, chances will have increased to 100 percent.

"New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms," forecasters wrote in their forecast matter-of-factly, likely from the dry environs of their weather-predicting stations with technological, weather-predicting wizardry at their fingertips.

Oh but the weather gods will be merciful by Wednesday, benevolently giving a reprieve from rain as we cope with the requisite burdens of hump day.

Think again.

Wednesday calls for showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 p.m. followed by more chance of showers, a high of 59 degrees and winds from the northwest blowing at up to 10 miles per hour. To disabuse everyone of the notion that the rain chances will have dissipated by Wednesday, forecasters offer this: Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. By nightfall on Wednesday, the chance of showers will have been reduced to 30 percent before 7 p.m. It will be mostly clear with a low of around 41 degrees.

Oh, but come on, you might be muttering at this point, Thursday surely will bring better weather. It's inconceivable that rain will last until then, and even the rain gods might think it best to end the three-day streak in providing a reprieve from the sudden rain riches.

Yes, in fact. However — and not to spoil your fleeting glee — temps in the 30s will have returned by then.By Thursday, it will be sunny with a high near 57 degrees. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with a low of around 36 degrees. Friday also is expected to be sunny with a high near 59 degrees and Saturday will arrive with a puny 20 percent chance of rain, growing to 30 percent by Sunday.

So keep that umbrella handy! And leave the Prada and Balenciaga shoes in the closet for now.