Geography Greater Austin

balcones canyonlands national wildlife refuge.

greater austin located in central texas along balcones fault , interstate 35, northeast of san antonio. result of straddling balcones fault eastern part of city flat, whereas western part , western suburbs consist of rolling hills on edge of texas hill country.

the region crossed colorado river several man-made lakes, known highland lakes, along length. because hills west limestone rock thin covering of topsoil, western portions of area subjected flash floods runoff caused thunderstorms. control runoff , generate hydroelectric power, lower colorado river authority operates series of dams form lakes.

the austin area located @ intersection of 4 major ecological regions , consequently temperate-to-hot green oasis highly variable climate having characteristics of desert, tropics, , wetter climate. area diverse ecologically , biologically, , home variety of animals , plants.

the soils of central texas range shallow, gravelly clay loams on limestone in western outskirts deep, fine sandy loams, silty clay loams, silty clays or clays in city s eastern part. of clays have pronounced shrink-swell properties , difficult work under moisture conditions. many of austin s soils, clay-rich types, moderately alkaline , have free calcium carbonate.

climate

greater austin has humid subtropical climate, characterized hot summers , mild winters. on average, city of austin receives 33.6 inches (853.4 mm) of rain per year, of precipitation in spring, , secondary maximum in fall. east, away hill country, precipitation typically higher. example, bastrop receives average of 38.0 inches (965.2 mm) of rain per year. during springtime, severe thunderstorms occur, though tornados rare in city. austin @ least partially sunny.

central texas summers hot , humid, average temperatures of approximately 90 degrees fahrenheit (32 celsius) june until september. temperatures above 100 °f (38 °c) common. entire year there average of 111 days above 90 °f (32 °c) , 198 days above 80 °f (27 °c) in city of austin. in general temperatures cooler west in hill country in plains east. average august high temperature in marble falls 94 °f (34 °c) compared 96 °f (36 °c) in bastrop, , average january low in marble falls 33 °f (1 °c) compared 37 °f (3 °c) in bastrop. winters in austin area mild , dry. entire year, austin averages 88 days below 45 °f (7 °c) , 24 days when minimum temperature falls below freezing. snowfall rare in central texas, area suffers occasional ice storms each year freeze on roads , can affect parts of region as 48 hours or more.

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