San Antonio Faces Dry Streak as Temperatures Soar to Record Highs

San Antonio Faces Dry Streak as Temperatures Soar

Good day, San Antonio! Are you feeling that heat yet? This Saturday, the temperature will reach a balmy 90 degrees just after 11 a.m. and peak at a sizzling 98 degrees by late afternoon. If you’re planning to be outdoors, remember to stay hydrated and apply that sunscreen!

A Rainy Month Goes Dry

September is usually a very rainy month around these parts. On average, San Antonio receives about 3.88 inches of rainfall this month, making it the second-wettest of the year, just behind May, which averages a slightly higher 4.4 inches. But this year has taken a surprising turn. After a cool and wet start to the month, we’ve found ourselves in a bit of a dry spell.

Since September 6th, our trusty climate observation site over at San Antonio International Airport hasn’t recorded a single drop of rain for a remarkable 22 consecutive days. That’s right, not even a sprinkle! This continues a dry trend that has left many of us scratching our heads.

Where Did the Rain Go?

The lack of rain has significantly increased San Antonio’s rainfall deficit, which is now sitting at 2.92 inches below average for the year. Up to now, we’ve only had 21.3 inches of rain in 2023, but after starting off the year strong with nearly-record amounts in January, six of the following eight months came up short.

This current dry spell is actually the second-longest we’ve faced this year. Earlier, we braved a 25-day dry streak from February 12 through March 7. As we move into the weekend and early next week, it looks like this rainless stretch could continue.

Weekend Weather: Hot and Dry

So, what’s coming up for the weekend? Well, you’re in for another toasty Saturday. This morning is starting off cool with temperatures in the mid-60s, but things are heating up fast! Expect to see the mercury climb to 80 degrees by around 10 a.m., and then reach that 90-degree mark around noon or 1 p.m.

By the afternoon, we’ll be basking in high temperatures of about 95 to 96 degrees, which is certainly above average for this time of year. The skies will be cloudless and sunny, so no rainy relief is in sight this weekend.

More Warm Weather Ahead

Sunday is shaping up to look similar, with morning lows in the 60s again and highs back into the mid-90s. And as we head into next week, high pressure is moving over Texas, potentially inching our daytime highs to 96 degrees on Monday, with even hotter forecasts looking ahead to 97 degrees by Tuesday. If those temperatures come through, we’ll be tying records for September 30 and October 1!

What About Rain? Could It Be Coming?

Now, let’s not forget about the possibility of rain lurking in the future. The National Hurricane Center is keeping an eye on a potential area of tropical development brewing in the western Caribbean and southern Gulf of Mexico, with a 30% chance of it developing into at least a tropical depression over the next week.

Long-range weather models hint at the potential for some tropical moisture to drift towards parts of South or Southeast Texas by the end of next week. Currently, we’ve got about a 20% chance of rain for next Friday, but let’s be clear—there’s still a lot of uncertainty. We’ll be keeping a watchful eye on how this develops!

Wrap Up

So, there you have it, San Antonio! With the heat rising and the rain notably absent, make sure you’re enjoying those cool mornings and preparing for the hot afternoons ahead. Keep your fingers crossed for some rain in the near future, and as always, stay tuned for updates as we get closer to the end of the month!