A strong cold front is sweeping across Texas. It brings a sharp shift from hot, humid conditions to chilly, gusty weather to Austin and Central Texas overnight into Friday, according to weather forecasts.
Central Texas experienced one final hot and humid day on Thursday. Temperatures climbed to around 90 degrees before the weather pattern shifted dramatically. The robust cold front was tracked moving through North Texas by late Thursday afternoon. It hit Dallas around 5 p.m. and Waco around 10 p.m., before arriving in Austin near 2 a.m. Friday.
Timeline and Impacts Across Central Texas
As the front pushed through the region, it moved into the northern Hill Country-including Burnet and Llano counties-and pressed into western Williamson County near midnight. Winds immediately shifted to the north. They brought initial gusts of around 25 mph that quickly escalated to between 30 and 40 mph.
Between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., the front cleared Austin, Dripping Springs, and Buda. Severe storms were not anticipated. However, the passage brought gusty north winds, scattered showers, and isolated thunderstorms, accompanied by brief heavy downpours and occasional lightning.
The National Weather Service issued a Wind Advisory for Central Texas. It began early Friday morning and lasted through Friday evening. Sustained northerly winds of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph, created hazardous driving conditions. These conditions prompted warnings for residents to secure loose outdoor objects and holiday decorations.
Significant Temperature Drop and Weekend Outlook
The weather system marks a substantial temperature swing for the region. It moves from heat index values near 100 degrees earlier in the week to wind chill values dropping into the 40s over the weekend. Temperatures in Austin peaked ahead of the front, then steadily fell throughout Friday.
After starting in the mid-to-upper 70s around midnight, temperatures dropped into the lower 60s by sunrise. They lingered in the upper 50s and lower 60s by Friday afternoon. The rest of the weekend will deliver clear fall weather. This features morning lows in the 40s and 50s-with upper 30s possible in some Hill Country valleys-and sunny afternoons with highs in the 60s and 70s before winds settle down on Sunday.
