Austin Weather Update: Severe Storm Threat, Flash Flood Watch & Hour-by-Hour Forecast

Central Texas is bracing for another stretch of triple-digit afternoons as August heat digs in over Austin. Meteorologists say today’s high will push 94-96 °F, but the thermometer could feel closer to 105 °F once humidity is factored in, keeping the city under a heat index advisory through late week. Afternoon pop-up storms remain possible. The National Weather Service expects a 30-40 % chance of brief, slow-moving thunderstorms after 3 p.m. each day through Friday; any cells that form could dump one to two inches of rain in under an hour, leading to localized street flooding. Lightning and sudden wind gusts up to 40 mph will be the primary hazards. 7-Day Snapshot for Austin (Downtown) • Wednesday: Partly cloudy, 94 °F; evening low 77 °F; 35 % storm chance • Thursday: Mostly sunny, 96 °F; overnight 78 °F; isolated thunder after sunset • Friday: Scattered thunderstorms, 95 °F; rain odds rise to 50 % by late day • Saturday: Brief relief, 92 °F with cloud cover; 30 % rain chance • Sunday–Tuesday: Return to 96 °F highs, lows near 76 °F; slim storm chances Water use reminders Lake Travis levels dipped to 46 % full this week, triggering Stage 2 city watering restrictions. Homes with odd addresses may irrigate only on Wednesdays and Saturdays before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m.; even addresses are limited to Thursdays and Sundays. Energy demand & ERCOT outlook Peak electricity demand is forecast to top 84 GW Thursday afternoon. ERCOT urges residents to set thermostats to 78 °F and avoid large appliance use between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. to keep reserve margins healthy. Outdoor safety tips • Hydrate: one quart of water per hour during midday errands or workouts. • Seek shade between noon and 5 p.m.; UV index is expected to hit 11 (extreme). • Check the back seat twice—temperatures inside parked cars can exceed 130 °F in 10 minutes. Weekend events weather preview Austin FC’s home match Saturday evening at Q2 Stadium should kick off around 89 °F with a lingering 20 % storm chance. Zilker Park’s “Blues on the Green” rescheduled date Sunday night looks mostly dry and warm (mid-80s), but bring a poncho just in case. Bottom line Expect oppressive heat to persist, with short-lived thunderstorms offering isolated downpours rather than widespread relief. Keep an eye on rapidly changing radar, follow city drought guidelines, and plan outdoor activities for the cooler morning or post-sunset hours until a stronger cold front—currently absent from long-range models—arrives to shake up Austin’s summer pattern.