After a very mild winter, we’re having an early spring in Austin. Daytime highs have already reached over 80°, but nights are still cool. El Niño produced lots of rain last fall, but so far this year we’ve had very little moisture. Forecasters are hopeful that April and May will be wetter.

Downtown tends to be an urban heat island, so bluebonnets and other wildflowers have been blooming here for about two weeks. Trees are budding, and crape myrtles and Bradford pears are flowering along the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. Fewer ducks are floating on Lady Bird Lake…I assume they have started to migrate back north. Evening bat-watching cruises have started up again, although I don’t think many Mexican free-tailed bats have returned to roost under the Congress Avenue Bridge yet.

Austinites are taking advantage of the beautiful spring weather. Both the trail and the lake are crowded, especially on weekends. We know it won’t be too long before we’re complaining about the heat again!

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