You may want to start digging through the closet to find a sweater or a jacket, because the much-anticipated first strong cold front of the fall is less than 24 hours away.
The cold front is expected to plunge into South-Central Texas overnight Thursday, moving all the way through the region by sunrise on Friday. Recent forecast model data also shows that the front may be stronger than previously anticipated, forcing morning temperatures to drop into the 40s and 50s this weekend. Here’s an updated look at when the coldest temperatures will arrive.
Thursday’s forecast
Before the cold front arrives, warm and humid weather is expected once again across South Texas. San Antonio temperatures will hover in the mid-70s early Thursday morning under mostly cloudy skies, with temps rising slowly into the lower 80s by noon.
Afternoon highs are still expected to top out in the upper 80s to near 90 degrees. Humidity levels will drop slightly, but heat index values could still reach as high as 92 to 94 degrees. Winds will be light, coming in from the southeast at 5 to 10 mph
Cold front timeline
Late Thursday (9 p.m. to midnight): The cold front is expected to start pushing into the Texas Hill Country during this time, likely reaching cities such as Kerrville and Fredericksburg by 11 p.m. Winds will quickly shift to the north and become strong, and a few showers will also be possible.
Pre-dawn Friday (1 a.m. to 6 a.m.): The cold front is expected to reach the San Antonio metro area during this time, most likely at around 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. North winds will strengthen quickly, and San Antonio will also encounter about a 30% chance of scattered rain showers. Rain will be light, with most of the region seeing less than a quarter-inch of rainfall.
Friday morning (6 a.m. to 11 a.m.): The front will have moved all the way through the San Antonio metro area, leaving temperatures hovering in the low to mid-60s throughout the entire morning. Wind speeds will be very strong, with some gusts expected to reach up to 40 mph. Significant rainfall is not expected though, as drier air arrives from the north…