February: What to expect the final month of winter
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Warmer than average and drier than average. It's a tale we've heard before. A holdover from 2024, we are expecting a continuation of conditions we felt for the previous year. February marks the last month of Meteorological Winter and it's looking warmer and drier for better or for worse.
The latest forecast for February from the Climate Prediction Center calls for odds that favor a drier-than-normal month for almost all of Texas including Central Texas.
The temperature outlook likely points towards warmer-than-normal temperatures for February.
What is normal in February in Austin?
On average February is our driest month and our third coldest month of the year. It's the only month when Austin averages some snowfall (only 0.2"). Average temperatures rise to near 70 by the end of the month. We typically get two freezes in Austin in February.
- Average High: 66.5
- Feb. 1 Average High: 64
- Feb. 29 Average High: 69
- Average Low: 45.8
- Feb. 1 Average Low: 43
- Feb. 29 Average Low: 49
- Average Rain: 1.89″ (Driest month)
- Average Snow: 0.2″ (Snowiest month)
January on track to be below average
With just over half the month of January gone, temperatures are on track to remain much cooler. As we look back at January 2024, the month ended with an average temperature of 47.7°. Colder weather is expected to dominate the remainder of the month thanks to an arctic blast.
Drought outlook continues worsening trend
Comparing the latest drought monitor to four months ago, severe and extreme conditions continue to spread across the Austin Metro and out towards the Hill Country. This is a massive change from four months ago when Central Texas almost escaped any type of drought situation.
The latest Drought Outlook from the Climate Prediction Center and the U.S. Drought Monitor for the next three and a half months shows drought conditions persisting across Central, West, and Deep South Texas.
March 1 begins meteorological spring and also the beginning of severe weather season in Central Texas. Stay with the First Warning Weather Team as we keep you safe and informed before and during any active weather.