8:55p Fri update
Glad game was last night (at least for me, weak in cold). It's in the 40s with gusty north wind and has been heavier rain today. Last few hours hasn't been much, but heavier rain is moving back in.
As for driving back to West Texas...don't cite this as truth for all roads...but most people I've heard from have said driving hasn't been too bad today around Lubbock and the South Plains. That will change with it in the upper 20s and more freezing rain falling. I wouldn't try to drive around Lubbock tonight or Sat morn. Thus far roads have been pretty decent because ground was so warm going into this.
With more freezing rain tonight it'll probably get worse. It looks like heaviest additional freezing rain will be to the SE of Lubbock, Post to Childress. Some freezing precip is possible tonight around Abilene and Big Country.
By Sat afternoon the temp may climb above freezing around Lubbock, helping ice situation some.
Farther north ice is likely a bigger issue, since it's been colder and there's been frozen precip. Driving is likely worse Plainview to Amarillo and points north.
Drivetexas.org has updated info on conditions.
Post game update
Watch for minor street flooding around Austin...Longhorn tears.
5:35p update
Light showers now scattered from Lubbock and points south. Expect more into game time.
4:05p update
Radar clear around Austin and to the south. Dry next hour, probably two. Then some more rain possible during game.
1:10p update
There have been light showers around Austin past few hours...rains for a little while, lets up, next shower isn't too far away.
Thursday morning update
Cloudy all day with off-and-on rain. While a downpour or a thunderstorm is possible...it doesn't look like there will be the instability to support much of this. So it should be anything from mist to a light/moderate shower. It wont rain continuously, but good chance for at least some rain during game. Kickoff near 70, not moving much through game.
For drive back to West Texas...ice storm warning now in place Lubbock to Amarillo and surrounding communities Fri-Sat. Roads will start to get icy in N Panhandle early Fri, then concern slowly spreads south. Ground is warm now. But with continued freezing rain Fri into Sat the ground will cool and icy roads and highways will be possible.
Wednesday morning update
Change to bump up rain chance Thursday. Computers now show a whole lot more moisture from Hurricane Sandra in the Pacific moving toward Central Texas. It still looks more like rain than storms, but an isolated storm is possible.
Now it's up to a 70% chance for rain Thursday afternoon and evening. Kickoff temp still close to 70.
Take the rain gear to the game.
Tuesday afternoon update
No change in forecast...40% chance for rain Thu evening in Austin.
It's looking better right now if driving back to Lubbock Fri or Sat. Some icing on roads will be possible near Lubbock, but at least right now predominant precip type is rain. If you're driving N/NW of Lubbock the icing potential is higher. Could be a mix of some sleet or snow Muleshoe, Amarillo to Dalhart Fri-Sat.
Monday update
No significant changes on the timing. It still looks mild in Austin Thursday. Latest data for Friday and Saturday around Lubbock shows it may stay mainly rain with some risk of icing at night...but it's too close for comfort. Things should get a bit more certain next day or two.
Sunday update
It'll be a mild Thanksgiving in Austin, so the evening won't be too cool. High temp mid 70s, kickoff temp near 70 dropping into the mid 60s late.
There is a 40% chance for light rain Thursday afternoon and evening. There might even be a few storms around, but the storm chance is lower. Right now it looks like the higher chance for rain and storms in Central Texas will come on Friday.
Check back here next few days...there's potential this forecast changes dramatically. Right now a very strong cold front is expected to move across the Panhandle/South Plains late on Thursday and get through Austin later Friday. If the front speeds up by a day then we'd be talking about a bitterly cold game. Saturday will likely stay in the 40s in Austin.
Other issue is if you live in West Texas and are driving back home Friday or Saturday. That cold air is pretty much a guarantee Fri-Sat across most of the state. There might be some light precip at the same time. Right now it looks like freezing rain or sleet somewhere from the Panhandle to South Plains to Permian Basin and Big Country. That's a huge area, computers are flip-flopping right now on where that light moisture will fall. Plan for me is to drive back from my parents' south of Seguin to Lubbock to see Ryan Bingham Sat night...I'll be pretty upset if weather messes that plan up.
Glad game was last night (at least for me, weak in cold). It's in the 40s with gusty north wind and has been heavier rain today. Last few hours hasn't been much, but heavier rain is moving back in.
As for driving back to West Texas...don't cite this as truth for all roads...but most people I've heard from have said driving hasn't been too bad today around Lubbock and the South Plains. That will change with it in the upper 20s and more freezing rain falling. I wouldn't try to drive around Lubbock tonight or Sat morn. Thus far roads have been pretty decent because ground was so warm going into this.
With more freezing rain tonight it'll probably get worse. It looks like heaviest additional freezing rain will be to the SE of Lubbock, Post to Childress. Some freezing precip is possible tonight around Abilene and Big Country.
By Sat afternoon the temp may climb above freezing around Lubbock, helping ice situation some.
Farther north ice is likely a bigger issue, since it's been colder and there's been frozen precip. Driving is likely worse Plainview to Amarillo and points north.
Drivetexas.org has updated info on conditions.
Post game update
Watch for minor street flooding around Austin...Longhorn tears.
5:35p update
Light showers now scattered from Lubbock and points south. Expect more into game time.
4:05p update
Radar clear around Austin and to the south. Dry next hour, probably two. Then some more rain possible during game.
1:10p update
There have been light showers around Austin past few hours...rains for a little while, lets up, next shower isn't too far away.
Thursday morning update
Cloudy all day with off-and-on rain. While a downpour or a thunderstorm is possible...it doesn't look like there will be the instability to support much of this. So it should be anything from mist to a light/moderate shower. It wont rain continuously, but good chance for at least some rain during game. Kickoff near 70, not moving much through game.
For drive back to West Texas...ice storm warning now in place Lubbock to Amarillo and surrounding communities Fri-Sat. Roads will start to get icy in N Panhandle early Fri, then concern slowly spreads south. Ground is warm now. But with continued freezing rain Fri into Sat the ground will cool and icy roads and highways will be possible.
Wednesday morning update
Change to bump up rain chance Thursday. Computers now show a whole lot more moisture from Hurricane Sandra in the Pacific moving toward Central Texas. It still looks more like rain than storms, but an isolated storm is possible.
Now it's up to a 70% chance for rain Thursday afternoon and evening. Kickoff temp still close to 70.
Take the rain gear to the game.
Tuesday afternoon update
No change in forecast...40% chance for rain Thu evening in Austin.
It's looking better right now if driving back to Lubbock Fri or Sat. Some icing on roads will be possible near Lubbock, but at least right now predominant precip type is rain. If you're driving N/NW of Lubbock the icing potential is higher. Could be a mix of some sleet or snow Muleshoe, Amarillo to Dalhart Fri-Sat.
Monday update
No significant changes on the timing. It still looks mild in Austin Thursday. Latest data for Friday and Saturday around Lubbock shows it may stay mainly rain with some risk of icing at night...but it's too close for comfort. Things should get a bit more certain next day or two.
Sunday update
It'll be a mild Thanksgiving in Austin, so the evening won't be too cool. High temp mid 70s, kickoff temp near 70 dropping into the mid 60s late.
There is a 40% chance for light rain Thursday afternoon and evening. There might even be a few storms around, but the storm chance is lower. Right now it looks like the higher chance for rain and storms in Central Texas will come on Friday.
Check back here next few days...there's potential this forecast changes dramatically. Right now a very strong cold front is expected to move across the Panhandle/South Plains late on Thursday and get through Austin later Friday. If the front speeds up by a day then we'd be talking about a bitterly cold game. Saturday will likely stay in the 40s in Austin.
Other issue is if you live in West Texas and are driving back home Friday or Saturday. That cold air is pretty much a guarantee Fri-Sat across most of the state. There might be some light precip at the same time. Right now it looks like freezing rain or sleet somewhere from the Panhandle to South Plains to Permian Basin and Big Country. That's a huge area, computers are flip-flopping right now on where that light moisture will fall. Plan for me is to drive back from my parents' south of Seguin to Lubbock to see Ryan Bingham Sat night...I'll be pretty upset if weather messes that plan up.
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