Warm Weather Sticks Around in San Antonio: A Look at the Unseasonably High Temperatures
As we dive into October here in San Antonio, most people are probably busting out their pumpkin spice candles and putting up those lovely fall decorations. However, while your home might look like autumn, the weather outside is still feeling very much like summer! If you’re expecting those cool, crisp days to arrive, you might need to hold off a bit longer.
The Warm Trend Continues
It’s officially fall, but you wouldn’t know it by stepping outside. The temperature has been quite high, and there’s little indication in the forecast that it will change anytime soon. Usually, if we look back at the last 30 years, we can get a pretty good idea of when to expect cooler weather. From 1993 to 2023, San Antonio has typically seen high temperatures drop to 80 degrees or below by about September 17. Meanwhile, we usually enjoy our first morning temperatures dipping down to 60 degrees around September 25. Well, here we are, and we’ve already missed those benchmarks!
Breaking Records or Holding Onto Summer?
So far, temperatures have not dropped below 60 degrees in the mornings nor have we experienced an afternoon cooler than 80 degrees at San Antonio International Airport. In fact, the record for the latest date when the afternoon temperature dipped to or below 80 degrees was set back in 2015 on October 24. Meanwhile, the latest morning low of 60 degrees occurred even further back in 2007, on October 19. If we don’t get some cooler weather soon, we might just beat both of those records—something that could be either impressive or disappointing, depending on your love for the heat!
What About Those Cold Fronts?
October usually welcomes the arrival of the season’s first significant cold fronts. As chilly air moves down from Canada, we typically get swept away by refreshing breezes. Unfortunately, the latest reports indicate that temperatures in Canada and the northern parts of the United States will remain above average—by as much as 15 to 20 degrees—and that could stick around through mid-October or even longer. So, it looks like we might have to wait a while for those loved cold fronts to make an appearance in San Antonio.
Rainfall Outlook Not Looking Good
Now let’s talk about another fall favorite: rain! October is actually San Antonio’s third rainiest month, with an average rainfall of 3.75 inches. However, without the typical cold fronts to stir things up, we’re likely to see just a few spotty showers instead, keeping our overall precipitation amounts low through mid- to late-October. Adding to the concern is the fact that drought conditions have been lingering in South Central Texas. Specifically, Bexar County has experienced some form of drought for over 1,000 days since January 4, 2022!
Hope on the Horizon
Even if autumn-like weather is slow to arrive, we can take comfort in the fact that nature has its own pace. Eventually, the cool weather and those beautiful autumn colors will be here. And don’t worry—when that long-awaited cold snap does come, you can count on us to keep you well-informed with timely updates!
So while we may not be enjoying the fall temperatures just yet, we can revel in the cozy vibes of autumn indoors. Time to light those candles and sip on some warm drinks while we wait for that chill in the air!
