7 day forecast san antonio texas: Why the 2026 Winter Rollercoaster Is Just Getting Started

7 day forecast san antonio texas: Why the 2026 Winter Rollercoaster Is Just Getting Started

If you’ve lived in the Alamo City for more than a week, you know the drill. You leave the house in a heavy parka at 7:00 AM and by lunch, you're sweating through your shirt and looking for a Margarita on a patio. Checking the 7 day forecast san antonio texas right now feels a bit like reading a suspense novel where the protagonist can’t decide if they’re in the Arctic or the Tropics.

Seriously.

We are currently navigating a weirdly persistent weather pattern that local meteorologists, including the team over at KSAT and the National Weather Service in New Braunfels, have been watching closely. While the start of January 2026 was unseasonably warm—we’re talking record-challenging mid-80s—the "winter vibes" have finally decided to show up. But in true San Antonio fashion, they aren't staying for long.

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The Current 7 Day Forecast San Antonio Texas Breakdown

Right now, we are smack in the middle of a "reinforcing cold front" phase. If you looked out the window on Tuesday, January 13, you saw that thick, gray blanket of clouds. It felt heavy. We had those spotty light rains that don't really help the four-year drought but definitely make the morning commute a mess on I-35.

Here is the vibe for the week ahead:

Wednesday (Jan 14): The Midweek Warm-up
This is the outlier. We’re expecting a jump back up toward 69°F or maybe even 70°F. It’s going to be sunny. It’s going to be beautiful. If you have errands to run or want to walk the River Walk without shivering, this is your window. Just remember that a north wind will be kicking up around 16 mph, so it won’t feel quite as balmy as the thermometer suggests.

Thursday & Friday (Jan 15-16): The Backdoor Front
Another burst of arctic air is sliding in. It’s not a "freeze your pipes" event, thankfully, but Friday morning will likely see us dipping into the low 40s again. Highs will struggle to get past 63°F on Thursday before rebounding slightly on Friday.

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The Weekend (Jan 17-18): Dry and Crisp
Saturday looks like the pick of the week for outdoor activities. We're looking at highs in the mid-50s to near 60°F. It’s perfect "sweater weather" for the Pearl Farmers Market. Humidity is expected to be incredibly low—around 18% on Saturday—so it’s going to feel very "high desert" for a minute.

Early Next Week (Jan 19-20): The Rain Return?
By Monday, the clouds come back. We’re looking at a 20-25% chance of light rain. It’s that annoying, misty San Antonio rain that makes the limestone sidewalks slippery. Temperatures stay cool, hovering in the upper 50s.

Is the Drought Finally Breaking?

Honestly, probably not this week. Sarah Spivey and the KSAT Weather Authority recently pointed out that Bexar County has been in some level of drought since 2022. That’s a long time to be waiting for a good soak.

There is a bit of "nerd hope" on the horizon, though. Climatologists at NOAA are watching a shift from La Niña to El Niño. For us in South Texas, El Niño usually means a wetter, cooler winter. We’re currently in a bit of a transition period, which is why the rain we are getting is so hit-or-miss. We're still nearly an inch behind on rainfall for January already.

The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) is already eyeing the Edwards Aquifer levels. Even if your 7 day forecast shows a few raindrops, don't expect those watering restrictions to vanish anytime soon.

How to Survive a San Antonio "Winter"

You have to layer. It sounds cliché, but it’s the only way to survive a day where the temperature swings 30 degrees.

  1. The Morning Layer: A light down vest or a medium-weight fleece is usually enough for these 40-degree mornings.
  2. The Mid-Day Pivot: By 2:00 PM, you’ll want that vest in the backseat.
  3. The Humidity Factor: When the humidity jumps back up next Tuesday (predicted to hit 86%), 57°F is going to feel a lot chillier than 57°F feels on a dry Saturday. Damp cold is a different beast.

If you are visiting from up north and think 60°F is "T-shirt weather," just watch the locals. We will be in Uggs and parkas the second it drops below 65°F. It’s a cultural thing.

Best Ways to Enjoy the Current Weather

Since the forecast is mostly dry and cool for the next few days, it’s actually a prime time to hit the spots that are usually too hot in July.

The Mission Trail is spectacular right now. You can bike from Mission Concepción down to Mission Espada without needing a gallon of Gatorade. The cooler air makes the 15-mile trek actually enjoyable.

If it does start misting on Monday or Tuesday, head indoors. The Witte Museum has a great "Unseen Oceans" exhibit running right now, and the Briscoe Western Art Museum is showing a cool collection of historic Texas maps through January 19. Both are perfect escapes if the "spotty showers" become a reality.

What to Watch For

Keep an eye on the "wind chill" factor this Thursday and Friday. While 63°F sounds decent, that steady breeze from the north can make it feel significantly colder, especially in the shade of the downtown buildings.

Also, watch the overnight lows. We aren't seeing a hard freeze in the immediate 7 day forecast, but if you’re out in the Hill Country (Boerne or Fredericksburg), you’ll likely see temperatures 5-8 degrees lower than what we’re seeing at the San Antonio International Airport.

Pro-tip for travelers: If you’re flying in, the airport (KSAT) is where most of these "official" readings come from. Downtown is usually a few degrees warmer due to the urban heat island effect, so plan accordingly if you’re staying near the River Walk.


Next Steps for Your Week:

  • Plan your outdoor events for Wednesday or Saturday. These are your best bets for sunshine and manageable winds.
  • Check your tire pressure. These quick temperature drops from the 70s to the 40s often trigger that annoying "low pressure" light on your dashboard.
  • Keep the umbrella in the trunk. You won't need it daily, but when Monday's mist hits, you'll be glad it's there.

Stay warm, or cool, or whatever the next hour requires of you.