Monday rain chances, wildfire risk

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A beautiful day in Austin had people out and about Sunday despite windy conditions later in the day. Those winds will worsen Monday with an expected cold front and with them a risk for wildfires.

Like the calm before a storm Austinites were enjoying the sun and light winds during the first-half of Sunday. KXAN viewer Anne Morley sent in a photo via KXAN's ReportIt of kiteboarders and windsurfers taking advantage of the extra wind, sharing the water at Windy Point. And KXAN viewer Bobby Myska sent in a photo of Austin's skyline Sunday afternoon and folks walking near downtown Austin taking in the sunshine, in as Myska describes, a "Beautiful Chamber of Commerce day in Austin!"

As the day progressed winds came through the area.

"It was breezy today. Winds were out of the SSE at around 15 mph. Perfect sunshine, until early evening when clouds rolled in," said KXAN Meteorologist Natalie Stoll.

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So what about the rest of the week?

The KXAN First Warning Weather team is tracking a strong cold front anticipated to push through central Texas during the dawn hours Monday.

The only rain chance in the foreseeable future comes with a cold front’s passage early Monday.

"With the front’s passage, we will see a 50% chance of scattered showers – with an isolated stronger thunderstorm possible. For those of us who do get a shower, rainfall amounts will unfortunately remain light," Stoll said.

The National Weather Service has issued both a Wind Advisory and a Red Flag Warning for central Texas from 10 AM – 7 PM Monday.

The strong winds will also increase chances for wind-driven wildfires.