Posting because this was kind of unusual in.. not 'posta happen.
Last night's version of strong storms which have essentially been parked all week along a frontal boundary straddling TX/OK border running NE into AR, MO and IA set off a strong outflow boundary (a buncha cold air pushing down the storms and out, i.e. S/SW towards us) which like a blowdryer simply pushed all the unstable, smoky, muggy air outta CenTex and replaced it with dry air. It kicked up some storms but not nearly the activity that it could have... I think one reason is that the boundary whooshed by so fast (it kinda took on a life of its own rolling down the state) that storms simply didn't have much of a chance to build - at least here (east of us there was a larger chunk of Gulf stanky moist air, and the boundary wasn't as fast-moving there and had time to kick up some mess).
Once the wind started whooshing by me at 40 mph I knew something was weird... it was supposed to be muggy most of the day, but suddenly it's 83° and sunny (after a brief light shower). I wasn't expecting a strong front coming in, but that's pretty much what happened... this outflow boundary got so much punch it essentially acted like a major front. Simply pushed out all the muggy air and the atmosphere got much more stable (and capped). Definitely not the way this afternoon was supposed to look (but I'll take it).
As a result, the severe weather forecast for most of CenTex has been downgraded - the atmosphere is nowhere nearly as unstable this morning. However, the heat of the day combined with storms forming N of us and moving S is still a possibility. However, most of the worst is now forecast to be NE of the Austin area. Chances are good that no rain will come out of this for many in ATX, more likely the farther E/NE you live from Austin.
Frankly I'll take it. I know rain is a precious commodity right now, but the severe setup for this evening wasn't very reassuring - good chance of very strong winds, a few tornadoes, and hail in a good part of the are (3 out of 5 "enhanced" risk). Now it's 2 out of 5, which basically means less chance over your house in particular. It could still throw a severe storm or 2 in the area, but a 2 is a lot less worrisome than a 3. Also, some good chances of rain all week so not completely hopeless.
Just thought this was worth it, since we got something that was not forecast at all, and completely turned the day around weatherwise, FWIW.