Austin and surrounding parts of Central Texas are bracing for a possible break in a punishing spell of heat, with scattered showers and storms expected to move east from the Hill Country after a season marked by 48 days above 100F.
The approaching weather system could bring much-needed rain to drought-hit communities from late Sunday into Monday and Tuesday, while easing temperatures that have remained well above seasonal norms.
Rain relief after 48 triple-digit days
Temperatures in the Austin area have reached triple figures 48 times this year, compared with a historical average of 29 days and 25 such days in 2025.
September has been particularly dry. Camp Mabry, the city’s main climate station, had recorded only just over 0.1in of rain during the month, all of it falling on September 6.
Early showers were tracked across San Saba and Mason counties on Sunday morning, with storms expected to push gradually eastwards. Morning temperatures were in the 70s before rising into the upper 80s and low 90s during the afternoon.
Forecasters said the best chance of widespread rainfall would arrive from late Sunday night, continuing through the start of the working week. Some locations could receive between 0.1in and more than 0.5in, although isolated downpours may create a local flooding risk because the parched ground is hard and unable to absorb water quickly.
The National Weather Service’s Austin-San Antonio office said in a drought statement issued on September 3 that moderate drought covered parts of the Hill Country, the Interstate 35 corridor and the Coastal Plains, while severe drought had returned to portions of Travis and Bastrop counties.
The same assessment said 27 of the area’s 33 counties were under burn bans at the time, highlighting the seriousness of the dry conditions despite recent improvements in reservoirs following heavy summer rainfall.
The rain would also offer a temporary reduction in heat stress, although temperatures are expected to remain high. The National Weather Service forecast highs in the upper 90s for Austin early in the week, with heat-index readings potentially reaching 107F.
Longer-range forecasts have suggested a wetter pattern could develop as Central Texas moves towards October, raising hopes of further relief for drought-affected residents, farmers and ranchers.
