Updated: 05/24/2012 07:40 AM
More warmth, more wind
Our day starts with strong southerly breezes, muggy temps, and cloudy skies, all made possible by the influx of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. We'll watch the clouds break to hot sunshine by midday, and temps will soar into the low 90s but feel like upper 90s thanks to higher humidity. Goodbye, spring...
Sustained winds right now:
Latest gusts:
Peak 24 hour gusts:
29 mph Austin-Bergstrom
29 mph Burnet
28 mph Lago Vista
28 mph San Marcos
25 mph Fredericksburg
25 mph Horseshoe Bay
24 mph Austin - Mabry
A large storm system crossing the northern tier of states continues to draw the Gulf breeze northward, with sustained speeds near 20 mph possibly gusting closer to 30 mph today. Hang on to your hats!
Futurecast shows the cycle of morning clouds and afternoon sun repeating through the holiday weekend. What we don't yet see are signs of isolated, hit-or-miss seabreeze showers that are expected to develop each afternoon 
Saturday through Monday. It's a very slim 10% chance some of this rain could make it into our area and, although brief, possibly interrupt any of your outdoor plans. For the most part, I'm banking on a hot & dry forecast but we had to let you know there is a chance...
Truthfully, we might not add another drop to the official 5.45" (Austin-Mabry) May rain total before the month runs out. I have hope that the high pressure ridge dominating the southwest will break down next week, allowing a new Pacific storm to aim some rain our way by Thursday or Friday. See the details on the YNN 8 Day Forecast.
In the Pacific...
While most of us were sleeping, BUD was growing and has now attained CATEGORY 1 HURRICANE STATUS -- the first hurricane of the 2012 Pacific Hurricane Season. Currently located 350 miles SW of Manzanillo, Mexico, HURRICANE BUD has winds sustained at 85 mph gusting slightly over 100 mph, and he's moving north at 7mph. The official forecast shows BUD holding Cat 1 strength through tomorrow before weakening back to a tropical storm tomorrow night as he nears the coast. But he might not hit land: a curve back out to sea is expected to spare the Mexican coastline from a direct landfall, with the storm diminishing over water this weekend.
Wednesday recap...
Check out the smoke... The effects of wildfires raging across SW New Mexico can be seen on yesterday's satellite loop. Some of the smoke made it into West Texas. A high fire threat continues in that section of our country today.
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Enjoy your Thursday.
Chief Meteorologist Burton Fitzsimmons