San Antonio sees a brief break Wednesday with a partly sunny afternoon topping out near 85°F — but don’t let the calm fool you, because another round of storms is already lined up for tonight and the National Weather Service is flagging an active pattern straight through Memorial Day weekend.
Today’s Setup
An early batch of showers and thunderstorms pushed south through the Alamo City before dawn, and the atmosphere needs a few hours to recover. Expect mostly dry skies from mid-morning through late afternoon along the River Walk, at the Pearl District, and out toward Lackland AFB. Cloud cover will keep it from getting oppressive — highs land near 85°F with a light east wind at 5 to 10 mph. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Best Window To Be Outside
If you need to run errands, mow the lawn, or grab lunch on the patio, noon through 4 PM CT is your golden window today. After that, the National Weather Service says the atmosphere begins to destabilize again. A new disturbance pushing in from the southwest will kick off scattered showers and thunderstorms by late afternoon — likely reaching the western suburbs first before spreading east. If you’re headed to see Juvenile at the Aztec Theatre tonight, keep an eye on radar before you leave and have a plan for parking quickly.
Storm Risk Tonight and Thursday
This is the part worth paying attention to. Storms become likely tonight (70% chance), with the heaviest activity expected between 7 PM and 1 AM CT. The National Weather Service highlights a risk for large hail and damaging wind gusts from the initial line of storms, with that severe risk easing as storms move east overnight. Rainfall totals of a half to three-quarters of an inch are expected — and the Weather Prediction Center has issued a Slight Risk for Excessive Rainfall across southwest Texas. If your neighborhood got soaked last night, you’re more vulnerable to flash flooding with this second round. The River Walk area and the flood-prone low-water crossings throughout the Hill Country foothills deserve extra caution after dark.
Thursday looks similar — showers and thunderstorms likely before 10 AM CT, then another chance through the afternoon, with a high near 82°F.
What To Wear Or Bring
Don’t leave home without a compact travel umbrella today — the kind that fits in a bag and actually opens when you need it. If you’re doing anything outdoors this week, a packable rain jacket is the smarter move than hauling a heavy coat. For anyone hiking the Government Canyon trails or anywhere near the Medina River bottoms this week, waterproof hiking boots will save you a miserable walk back to the car.
Spurs, Triumph, and Weekend Events
Frost Bank Center has a big week indoors — perfect when the weather outside is behaving like this. Triumph: The Rock & Roll Machine Reloaded Tour hits the venue Thursday, May 21 — check out our in-depth coverage for everything you need to know. Then on Saturday, May 22, it’s the West Conference Finals Game 3 — Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Game time means the storms should be shifting, but plan your drive in and out accordingly. Grab your San Antonio Spurs jersey for the home crowd energy, or a San Antonio Spurs hoodie if the arena AC gets aggressive. Tickets are available — Find tickets on StubHub or Get tickets on SeatGeek before they’re gone.
Rainy Night Dinner Idea
This is a certified slow-cooker week. Load up a programmable slow cooker with a big pot of chili or beef stew before you head to work and come home to something warm — perfect for the stormy evenings ahead. An enameled cast iron Dutch oven works just as well if you prefer stovetop. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
The active pattern doesn’t quit through Memorial Day weekend, per the National Weather Service. Rounds of heavy rain and storms are expected to continue, with localized flooding a recurring concern — especially for areas that keep getting repeated rainfall. Keep your plans flexible, check the San Antonio weather forecast daily, and stay weather-aware if you’re spending time outdoors near any creek crossings or low-water bridges. This is classic Flash Flood Alley season — respect the water.
