Central Texas residents have been in for a wild ride this January, as the region has swung from record-breaking warmth to a sudden, brisk turn toward winter. For nearly a week, the city of Austin basked in unseasonably high temperatures, with the mercury hitting a remarkable 88 degrees on January 2 and 84 degrees on January 6, according to Austin American-Statesman. These numbers are almost 20 degrees above the typical January high of 62 degrees, prompting many to wonder if winter had skipped town entirely.
But as the old saying goes, if you don’t like the weather in Texas, just wait a minute. The balmy conditions, which saw locals like James Wagner and Chris Nennig enjoying croquet at Auditorium Shores in shorts and t-shirts, are coming to an abrupt end. According to the National Weather Service and local meteorologists at KXAN, a dramatic shift is on the horizon, with a powerful cold front set to sweep through the region.
Wednesday, January 8, 2026, brought mostly sunny skies and a high near 82 degrees, with gusty southern winds reaching up to 20 mph, Hoodline reported. By evening, clouds began to roll in, hinting at a change in the air. Overnight, residents could expect temperatures to dip to around 66 degrees, with south-southeast winds gusting as high as 30 mph. Though a few spotty showers were possible, mainly in eastern counties, the chance of rain remained low at about 10%.
Thursday, January 9, arrived with a complicated weather picture. Forecasters noted two weather boundaries at play: a weak one already over Central Texas and a stronger, polar cold front barreling in from the northwest. The day started mostly cloudy and muggy, with morning temperatures in the 60s and breezy south winds gusting between 20 and 25 mph. By afternoon, clouds began to break, giving way to mostly sunny skies. Temperatures were expected to climb into the high 80s, possibly challenging the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport’s heat record of 81 degrees set in 2009. However, the warmth was not to last.
The interaction between the dry air mass and the lingering humidity triggered rain and thunderstorms across West and North Texas, with a 40% chance of scattered showers and isolated storms in the Austin area between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., according to KXAN. The highest risk of strong or severe storms, including damaging winds and large hail, was east of Interstate 35, though the overall risk remained low. “One or two storms may turn strong or severe, but generally speaking the risk is low with damaging wind and large hail being the concerns should storms strengthen enough,” KXAN meteorologists explained.
As Thursday evening gave way to night, the second, stronger cold front began its approach. By Friday morning, January 10, the weather would have turned noticeably colder and windier. The forecast called for a 30% chance of showers before noon, with the possibility of thunderstorms between 9 a.m. and noon. After the rain cleared, skies would remain mostly cloudy, but the high would only reach about 76 degrees as northwest winds calmed to around 5 mph in the afternoon. But the real chill was yet to come.
Friday night’s forecast was a wake-up call for anyone lulled by the week’s warmth. Temperatures were set to plummet to around 43 degrees, with north-northwest winds at 5 to 10 mph and gusts up to 25 mph. By Saturday, January 11, the cold front’s full force would be felt. North winds at 10 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph, would keep the high near 59 degrees, while overnight lows would drop to around 40 degrees. Wind chills on Saturday morning could even fall below freezing in parts of the Hill Country, KXAN warned. “This will make for a colder and windy Saturday with wind gusts in the 30-45 mph range and air temperatures in the 40s and 50s,” the station reported.
Despite the chill, the weekend would be mostly dry and sunny. Saturday was expected to be partly sunny, while Sunday, January 12, would bring more pleasant conditions, with morning lows in the 30s and afternoon highs in the low 60s under a mix of sun and clouds. The north wind would ease to around 5 mph, and Sunday night’s temperatures were forecast to fall to around 37 degrees.
Looking ahead to the start of the following workweek, the forecast suggested a return to seasonable norms for Central Texas. Highs would hover in the low 60s, with lows in the 30s and 40s—much closer to what locals expect for mid-January. According to the National Weather Service, “Austin temperatures will return to winter normal levels with highs in the 50s and 60s through early next week.” A weak low-pressure system moving out of Mexico could bring increasing cloudiness and a small chance of rain on Tuesday, January 13.
For those who have been longing for a true taste of winter, there’s more good news on the horizon. The weather service hinted that “more significant surges lie ahead for later next week, so those wondering what happened to January will finally see a weather correction.” In other words, the flip-flop from summerlike to wintry weather isn’t over just yet. If you’re hoping for another Arctic chill or even a shot at wintry precipitation, the second half of the month could deliver.
Amid these rapid changes, local meteorologists have encouraged residents to stay up to date with the latest forecasts. KXAN recommends using their First Warning Weather app, subscribing to their newsletters, and following their team on social media for real-time updates and behind-the-scenes insights.
For now, Austinites can pack away the shorts and dig out their jackets—at least for the next week or so. After a record-smashing start to the year, Central Texas is finally settling into a more familiar winter rhythm, with a few surprises still possible as January unfolds.
