In brief: In today’s post we provide some timing details on what to expect with Saturday’s front, which should bring a line of storms along with it. We also outline what looks to be an exceptional second half of the holiday weekend.

Timing of storms on Saturday

If you’re trying to make plans for Valentine’s Day, I want to tell you what I think will happen that day in terms of weather (I can make no predictions on the love side of the equation!) This forecast is still a bit tentative, but our confidence is increasing. An upper-level system will approach Houston, eventually dragging a cold front into the area. In terms of timing, Saturday morning should see a few light, scattered showers. At some point during the afternoon, activity may become a little stronger and more widespread.

However it now appears likely that a robust line of showers and thunderstorms could move through during the evening hours. My best guess is that this line moves through the Houston region between 6 pm and midnight on Saturday, with the slight possibility of some severe thunderstorms. This line may drop 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain, but again rain totals will vary. For now I don’t anticipate flooding concerns, but if we get some over-performing or slowing storms, there may be some briefly flooded streets. Matt and I will keep a close eye on this for you.

Thursday

A weak, and dying front has stalled over Houston, dropping most of the area into the upper 50s this morning. It will lift back north today, leaving us with a sunny day and highs in the upper 70s. Winds will be light, from the southeast. Lows tonight will drop to around 60 degrees. Fog will remain a possibility during the overnight hours through Saturday morning.

Friday

This will be a partly sunny and mild day, with high temperatures in the mid-70s. Lows on Friday night will be a few degrees warmer than Thursday night, likely in the low 60s.

Saturday

As noted above, we expect showers and thunderstorms to pass through the area on Saturday, likely during the evening hours. Highs during the daytime will reach the mid-70s, with overnight lows dropping into the upper 50s, as drier air from the front arrives after midnight.

Sunday

This will be a splendid day, with highs likely in the low 70s, sunny skies, and much drier air. Winds will be gusty from the north during the morning hours, but probably will moderate after that. Lows on Sunday night will drop into the low 50s in Houston, with cooler conditions further inland.

Monday

The President’s Day holiday looks splendid as well, with highs in the low- to mid-70s, dry air, sunshine, and light winds. Expect another night in the 50s.

Rest of next week

Most of the rest of next week looks mild, with highs near 80 degrees, lows near 60, and partly sunny skies. Some sort of front may arrive toward the end of next week, but the details are fuzzy.

In brief: In today’s update we discuss a weak front that will work its way into Houston today. We also look ahead to a soggy Valentine’s Day, and then ample sunshine for the remainder of the holiday weekend.

Valentine’s Day outlook

Well, this won’t be the frigid holiday weekend that Houston experienced five years ago, that’s for sure. However, Saturday and Saturday evening do look pretty soggy across the region as a disturbance moves into the region, preceding a cold front. Rain chances are nearly 100 percent on Valentine’s Day, although most of this should fall as light to moderate rain showers. It won’t be constant, and it probably won’t be severe, but if you’re planning anything romantic outdoors I would definitely have some fall back plans. Most areas will likely pick up between 0.5 and 1 inch of rain, although as usual totals will vary widely. Rains should end sometime on Saturday evening or early Sunday.

Wednesday

We are seeing some mostly light showers north and northwest of the city this morning (i.e. in locations such as The Woodlands). This rain is associated with a weak front that is slowly moving into the area. This front is not particularly strong, and it is fading. But I expect it to bring some drier air into the region today and tonight, probably at least down to the Highway 59/Interstate 69 corridor, and possibly even closer to the coast. High temperatures today will still reach the upper 70s for most locations, with partly sunny skies. Lows tonight probably will drop into the 50s for inland areas with the drier air, but I am less certain about temperatures near the coast.

Thursday and Friday

These days both should be partly sunny and warm, with temperatures in the upper 70s. Winds will be generally light, from the south. Lows on Thursday night will drop to around 60, while Friday night will be a few degrees warmer.

Saturday

As noted above, Valentine’s Day is looking fairly wet, with showers likely and perhaps a few thunderstorms. Highs will probably reach the mid-70s, with lows on Saturday night in the upper 50s.

Sunday and Monday

For many people this will be a three-day weekend, with President’s Day on Monday. Luckily, both of these days will be really nice with sunny skies and highs in the low 70s. Sunday morning looks breezy, but things should settle down some by Sunday afternoon, hopefully. Lows on Sunday night will drop to around 50 degrees in Houston, with cooler conditions for outlying areas.

Rest of next week

Most of the rest of next week will see warmer temperatures in the upper 70s to 80 degrees, with nighttime lows generally around 60 degrees. Another weak front may arrive by Thursday or Friday of next week, but there is no clear signal in the models either way. As noted in the title of today’s update, spring-like weather is here to stay for awhile even though we’re still in the middle of February.

In brief: In today’s post we discuss the warm pattern we’re in, which is likely to persist for most of the rest of the month. What does that mean for freezes? We also look ahead to the holiday weekend, which should have a lovely second half.

Warm February impact on freezes

The weather Houston is experiencing this week is more characteristic of mid-April than February, with temperatures running 10 to 15 degrees above normal. Looking ahead to the next 10 or so days, we have a few modest fronts in store, but nothing that will bring temperatures close to freezing again. So is that it for freezes here?

After the hard freeze in January I’m guessing that your garden may look like something of a nightmare. It’s tempting to think about going in and doing some work. And I’m not here to tell you it won’t freeze again in Houston. My gut tells me that, for the urban core of Houston and areas closer to the coast, the city will not freeze again. But today is only February 10. We can get hard freezes throughout the month of February, historically, and a light freeze any time in March.

So yes, it may not freeze again this winter. I would go so far as to say it probably won’t. But am I tearing up my garden? Not yet.

Tuesday

Today will be similar to Monday, with a warm southerly flow and high temperatures generally in the upper 70s. However with a little more moisture available, I expect skies to be partly to mostly cloudy this afternoon. Winds will get a little frisky this afternoon, perhaps gusting up to about 20 mph from the south. Lows tonight will drop to around 60 degrees in Houston.

Wednesday

Our weather on Wednesday is looking a little more interesting as a disturbance moves into the area. There is now about a 30 percent chance of showers (mostly light), likely during the afternoon hours. Skies will be partly sunny otherwise, with highs again in the upper 70s. On Wednesday afternoon a nose of drier air at the surface will attempt to move into the region from the northwest. I don’t think this drier and slightly cooler air will make it down to the coast, but I could see it pushing down to the Interstate 69/Highway 59 corridor by Wednesday evening or early Thursday. This leaves some uncertainty with lows on Wednesday night. I think the coast remains in the 60s, but some inland areas could drop into the 50s for a few hours on Thursday morning.

Thursday and Friday

The front’s effect, if you feel it, will be short-lived. Both Thursday and Friday will see highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s, with partly to mostly sunny skies. Lows will be back in the lower 60s for pretty much the entire area.

Saturday

The first half of the weekend will start out warm, with another day likely in the upper 70s. However we are likely to see widespread showers (and maybe a few thunderstorms, but nothing severe) on Saturday ahead of a front that should move through sometime during the afternoon or evening hours. The most likely time for showers is during the afternoon, but I’m not ruling out any time on Saturday night now. I’m going to continue to spitball rain accumulations of 0.25 to 0.75 for the area, but let’s put those in pencil for now, rather than writing them confidently in ink. Lows on Saturday night will drop into the 50s.

Sunday

This looks like an exceptional day, with sunny skies and a high near 70 degrees. My only concern at this point is winds, which could be gusty from the north at about 20 mph. But my hope would be that that die down somewhat during the afternoon hours. Sunday night into Monday morning looks to be the coolest night of the period, with lows falling to perhaps 50 degrees in Houston, with cooler conditions for outlying areas.

Next week

Monday—a holiday for many in honor of our presidents—should also be a rather pleasant day. Expect highs in the low- to mid-70s, with low humidity and light winds. Lows on Monday night should also drop into the 50s. After that we look to be warmer again for the remainder of the week, probably with highs in the upper 70s to 80 degrees, and overnight lows around 60 degrees. Another modest front is possible toward the end of next week. We’ll just have to wait and see.

In brief: In today’s post we briefly revisit this past weekend’s stunning weather, and look forward to when we might see similar conditions. Mostly, however, this coming week will see slightly warmer weather with modestly higher humidity.

A wonderful weekend

We complain a lot about the weather in Houston, and justifiably so I believe. But every now and then you get a spectacular weekend, which we did on Saturday and Sunday. Mrs. Berger and I had a lovely walk around the Houston Arboretum on Sunday afternoon, and there were times when I just stopped and said, “It feels so pleasant outside today.” Conditions this weekend will be mostly on the mild side, but with dewpoints around 60 degrees we will be a tad on the humid side of things. A front will arrive by this weekend, and although Saturday may see some rain showers, next Sunday may again be one of those fantastic weather days in Houston. We’ll see.

Monday

We are fully in a pattern with a pronounced onshore flow at this point, and we are going to see persistent southerly flow all week. This will present several changes to our weather. First of all, temperatures on Monday, and for the rest of the week, are generally going to be in the upper 70s. Some locations may hit 80 degrees. Skies will be partly sunny. And our nights will be warmer, with lows generally in the lower 60s. With the influx of moisture from the Gulf, and temperatures falling to dewpoint levels, we will see healthy chances of sea fog developing during the overnight hours, and persisting into the morning hours. Not all areas will see fog all week, but the threat will remain.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday

Not much will change through the middle of the week: expect highs mostly in the upper 70s, partly sunny skies, modestly humid air, and mild nights with the potential for fog developing. We might see a slight chance of showers on Tuesday or Wednesday night, but I’m not particularly bullish.

Saturday

We’ll start to see some rain chances creep into the forecast on Friday night in response to an approaching disturbance. Rain chances will peak on Saturday, probably above 50 percent for most locations. As for accumulations it’s too early to say much with confidence, but a lot of places will probably pick up between 0.25 and 0.75 inch. Highs Saturday should be in the mid-70s, but this will depend on the arrival of a surface front. For now I’ll guess late afternoon or evening. Lows on Saturday night probably will drop into the 50s.

Sunday

As noted above, this looks to be the pick of the litter in terms of weather for the upcoming period. Highs probably will be in the vicinity of 70 degrees, with sunny skies and lower humidity, but for now those details must remain on the fuzzy side of things.

Next week

After a couple of cooler nights (Sunday night into Monday morning may get into the 40s) most of next week looks pretty mild as well. There’s no strong signal for rain showers, and I’d bet we’re back mostly in the 70s for daytime highs.