Honestly, if you’ve lived in Austin long enough, you know that a "7-day forecast" is basically a loose suggestion. One minute you’re looking at your weather app planning a hike at Barton Creek, and the next, a cold front screams down I-35 and flips your Saturday upside down.
Right now, as we hit mid-January 2026, things are getting weird. We're coming off a stretch of unseasonable warmth—literally hitting the 80s just a few days ago—and now we're staring down a classic Texas "rollercoaster" week. It’s the kind of weather that makes you keep a parka and a pair of shorts in the backseat of your car just to survive the afternoon.
The 7 day forecast austin texas Breakdown
Let's look at the actual numbers because they tell a story of a city that can't decide if it’s winter or spring.
Today, Friday, January 16, is basically the last gasp of "fake spring." We’re looking at a high of 72°F with plenty of sun. It’s perfect, right? Well, the wind is kicking up to about 16 mph from the west, which is the first sign that the atmosphere is about to throw a tantrum.
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By tonight, that "dry cold front" the National Weather Service has been talking about officially arrives. It’s not going to bring rain—Austin is currently stuck in a moderate drought—but it is going to bring the chill.
Saturday, January 17 is going to be a reality check. The high drops twenty degrees to a crisp 52°F. With the humidity crashing to around 19%, it’s going to feel incredibly dry. If you’ve got sensitive skin, this is the day you’ll be hunting for the heavy-duty lotion.
The Sunday Morning Freeze
Sunday is where it gets serious for your garden. We’re expecting a low of 33°F in the city, but if you’re out in the Hill Country or near Cedar Park, you’re almost certainly hitting a hard freeze.
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The high for Sunday, January 18 recovers to 62°F, but that morning chill is the real headline. It’s that sharp, biting Texas cold that disappears the second the sun hits the pavement.
Why the Drought Changes Everything
We usually think of rain as a nuisance, but in the current 7 day forecast austin texas, the lack of rain is actually the dangerous part.
Because we haven't had a "drought buster" soaking in weeks, the vegetation around Lake Travis and the Greenbelt is dormant and brittle. When these dry fronts come through with 15-20 mph winds, the fire danger spikes. Most people don't think about "fire weather" in January, but when the dewpoint drops into the single digits—which is exactly what's happening this weekend—one stray spark in the dry grass can cause a massive problem.
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The Mid-Week Shift
Once we get past the weekend, the pattern shifts again.
- Monday, Jan 19 (MLK Day): Clouds start rolling in. High of 63°F, low of 39°F.
- Tuesday, Jan 20: This is our first real shot at moisture. We’re looking at a 40% chance of light rain overnight with a much cooler high of 54°F.
- Wednesday, Jan 21: The humidity spikes back up to 83%. It’ll feel "muggy-cold"—that damp chill that gets into your bones—with a high of 60°F.
Dealing with the "Four Ps"
When the 7 day forecast austin texas shows lows dipping into the 30s and 20s (especially for our neighbors to the west), meteorologists always harp on the "Four Ps." It sounds like a corporate slogan, but it’s actually how you avoid a $5,000 plumbing bill.
- People: Check on your neighbors, especially the elderly.
- Pets: If it’s too cold for you to stand outside in a t-shirt for 20 minutes, it’s too cold for your dog.
- Plants: Bring in the tropicals. The sunny 70-degree Friday will lie to you; Sunday morning will kill your hibiscus.
- Pipes: Since this isn't a sustained deep freeze like 2021, you probably don't need to drip every faucet, but covering outdoor hose bibs is a smart, five-minute move.
Honestly, the biggest takeaway for this week is the volatility. We go from 72°F on Friday to a freeze-threat on Sunday, then back to gray, rainy humidity by mid-week. It’s classic Austin.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Friday Evening: Cover your outdoor faucets and move potted plants indoors before the sun goes down.
- Saturday/Sunday: Avoid any outdoor burning or equipment that could spark; the low humidity and high winds make fire risk "near-critical."
- Tuesday: Plan for a slower commute; the light rain on top of a long dry spell makes Austin roads notoriously slick as the oils rise to the surface.