Austin residents should keep their umbrellas close this week with chances of sporadic rain before the skies open up over the weekend, a strong cold front is expected to roll in, bringing significant showers and thunderstorms. Today will be mostly cloudy with highs nearing 86 degrees, moving into a wetter pattern as the weekend approaches, according to the National Weather Service.

Today: mostly cloudy east and partly cloudy west. A weak front will produce isolated showers in the morning across the northern Hill Country and Central Texas. The front will stall west of I-35 in the afternoon. Warm conditions with low humidity will prevail west of the front. pic.twitter.com/6yXRfeErZ0

— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) April 16, 2024

The city is bracing for humid conditions and warm temperatures to start, with a possibility of showers and isolated storms being sparked by a passing boundary. However, KXAN reports that "no significant rain is expected" for the initial part of the week. The Hill Country is poised for higher temperatures due to drier air, which briefly gives respite from the humidity behind the front.

As the week progresses, "the sky will try to spit on a few of us Wednesday," with Thursday and Friday possibly bringing more substantial showers as the next disturbance arrives. KXAN also forecasts a "low risk of severe storms for our area on Thursday," but emphasizes the potential for heavier precipitation to follow in the days after.

Projections indicate an uptick in rainfall starting Saturday through early Sunday, with some weather models suggesting heavy downpours and "decent rain totals averaging between an inch and four inches," as per KXAN. The impending cold front is poised to knock temperatures significantly, estimated to drop between 15° and 20°, signaling the dramatic weather changes Austin can anticipate.

With these fluctuations, the chances of rain and thunderstorms rise for the weekend when the cold front makes its grand entrance. Residents should prepare for a wet conclusion to the week, carrying through an unsettled weekend. Following the showers and potential thunderstorms on Saturday night, the outlook brightens as the forecast for Monday points to mostly sunny skies with a high near 77 degrees, offering hope for drier days ahead.