Friday begins with a familiar rhythm across Central Texas—sunrise paints the skies partly cloudy, temperatures stretch into the upper 60s and low 70s, and a soft southerly breeze sets the tone. But don’t let the calm fool you. The heat builds quickly, pushing afternoon highs into the upper 90s and even flirting with triple digits. Humidity stays low, but the sun? Relentless.

In the Austin and San Antonio corridor, conditions remain hot and dry through midday, with isolated showers and thunderstorms possible later over Val Verde County. If you’ve got outdoor plans, keep an eye on the sky and a backup plan close by.

By late afternoon, the atmosphere begins to stir. Storm chances ramp up after 4 PM, bringing the potential for strong to damaging wind gusts, scattered showers, and isolated lightning strikes. The National Weather Service has flagged a Slight Risk for severe thunderstorms across parts of the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys, with hazards including frequent lightning, hail, and even a few tornadoes.

A cold front is the culprit. Sliding in from the Great Lakes through the Southern Plains, it’s set to bring cooler air, increased cloud cover, and widespread rain chances from Friday evening into the weekend. Storm activity should taper off after 10 PM, but scattered showers may linger through Friday night and into Saturday morning.

Rain chances climb Saturday and peak Sunday, with the threat of locally heavy rainfall. Temperatures will dip into the 70s and 80s, which is below average for this time of year, before warming again mid to late next week.

Meanwhile, across the western U.S., monsoonal moisture and upper-level energy are fueling thunderstorms from Southern California to the Rockies. Smoke from wildfires continues to impact air quality in parts of the Northwest and Northern/Central High Plains.

And as always, if thunder roars then head indoors. Stay weather-aware, stay safe, and stay tuned to KNCT for updates as the weekend unfolds.