Austin Sizzles Above 100°F – Heat Advisory, Extreme‑Heat Warnings and a Passing Tropical Storm

It’s that time of year again when the Texas sun feels like a furnace blowing straight into your car. On Tuesday, July 20, the Camp Mabry weather station in Austin finally cracked the 100‑degree mark – only the second time this year that the thermometer has dared to show three digits.

But don’t celebrate just yet. The KXAN First Warning Weather team says Wednesday, July 22, looks even hotter. Forecast models are nudging the high up to around 103 °F, which would make it the hottest day of 2026 so far. And with the humidity already climbing, the "feels‑like" temperature could push past 110 °F. It’s the kind of heat that makes you reach for a cold drink before you even step outside.

Because of that, the National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for central Texas, effective from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday. On top of the advisory, an Extreme‑Heat Warning is already in force for Milam County and the points north and east of it. The warning also lists Bastrop, Fayette, Lee, Travis and Williamson counties – essentially the whole Austin‑area belt.

What does that mean for the rest of us? Stay out of direct sun if you can, hydrate often, and keep an eye on children, pets and anyone with health conditions that make heat exposure risky. The heat advisory isn’t a blanket order, but it does signal that outdoor work or strenuous activity should be limited during the peak‑hour window.

Rain isn’t exactly on the menu, but the forecast does sprinkle in a tiny chance of showers – roughly a 10 % probability – late Wednesday afternoon. Those would be isolated, brief, and more of a curiosity than a relief. The humidity will stay "very high" through Thursday, so even if the temperature dips a degree or two, the heat index will keep things uncomfortable.

Adding a dash of intrigue to the mix, a new tropical system – Bertha – formed Monday night in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. The storm is expected to head west‑northwest, weakening to a tropical depression or post‑tropical cyclone before it reaches the Texas coastline later this week. Meteorologists think Austin will see at most a few stray showers, but the added moisture could nudge humidity even higher.

Looking beyond Wednesday, the model guidance keeps the mercury hovering around the 100‑degree mark for at least Thursday, with similar heat‑advisory language likely to stay in place. The KXAN team – Nick Bannin, Kristen Currie, Hannah Gard, Tommy House and Freddy Vela – will continue to monitor the situation and update the public as the forecast evolves.

Bottom line: Keep cool, stay hydrated, and trust the local weather folks. If you’re planning to be outdoors, aim for early morning or later evening, and remember that the heat isn’t going anywhere fast.