Lassoing some superb spring weather this weekend in Houston

In brief: Houston has a really nice weekend ahead of us with 70s and sunshine. Next week gets a little trickier with a storm system Tuesday that could deliver some strong storms, followed by another round of very nice weather.

As the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo kicks off with the BBQ cookoff this weekend and the parade tomorrow and Mardi Gras rolls on in Galveston, southeast Texas will be treated to some really solid spring weather. But we will be watching next Tuesday for the potential of some stronger thunderstorms.

Saturday’s forecast highs look rather warm across the region except in Galveston! (Pivotal Weather)

Today through Sunday

All three days should be partly to mostly sunny with highs in the 70s today, near 80 tomorrow, and back in the 70s on Sunday behind a weak little backdoor front coming from Louisiana. Morning lows will be in the 50s or upper-40s in spots. There may be some fog around tomorrow morning, and there is a chance of some fog clinging to the coast tomorrow afternoon. For Mardi Gras in Galveston, bring a hoodie. If you’re going to pre-Rodeo events or scoping out the Dynamo (and Messi) this weekend or anything else, it’s going to be great.

Monday

Much stronger onshore flow begins to establish on Monday, leading to warmer temps, higher humidity, clouds, and some patchy fog. A few isolated showers or pockets of drizzle cannot be ruled out. After morning lows near 60, daytime highs will probably push to near 80 degrees.

Tuesday

Tuesday is going to be an interesting day. There is a very clear-cut severe weather risk Tuesday as a disturbance and front approach. The question locally is whether the “cap” can break.

For those new to Houston or that aren’t familiar, often during springtime severe weather events, Houston’s geography allows it to be somewhat protected by what we call a “cap” in the atmosphere. It’s just a point above our heads where the air turns warmer and drier all of a sudden, which physically essentially “caps” how tall clouds (and thus thunderstorms) can grow to be. Houston often avoids the fate of the rest of the southern Plains’s reputation for being tornado alley in spring because of this.

Tuesday’s severe weather outlook currently extends into Montgomery and Liberty Counties, but it will be a close call in the Houston area. (NOAA SPC)

The challenge for us, especially 5 days out, is determining whether or not that “cap” will be eroded or break. And that’s just not really a high-confidence parameter to predict. That said, the highest risk for severe storms on Tuesday will clearly be to our north. But the risk of some strong to severe storms close to the Houston area, especially on the north side of I-10 is not zero.

Otherwise, Tuesday looks breezy and warm, with highs around 80 degrees.

Rest of next week

Behind Tuesday night’s front, the rain and storm threat will end and much cooler, drier air will push back into the area. It looks like a wonderful finish to next week. High temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday will probably be near 70 with morning lows in the 40s and 50s.

Welcome to That ’70s Show for the next week in Houston

In brief: Although there will be differences in humidity and nighttime lows, Houston will predominantly see high temperatures in the 70s for the next week or so. This period will include some absolutely gorgeous weather days, including Friday and Saturday of this week. We are watching for the possibility of some storms with a front next Tuesday.

Texas is a big state, and there’s a broad variance in temperatures this morning. (Weather Bell)

Thursday

Houston is experiencing its warmest morning in weeks, with low temperatures generally only in the lower 60s across the metro area. However, a modest cool front is on our doorstep, and it will move into the region today. As a result we will see partly to mostly cloudy skies, although likely no rain showers. Highs today will be slightly cooler, in the mid-70s. Cooler and drier air pushes in this evening, allowing low temperatures tonight to fall to around 50 degrees in Houston.

Friday

This will be a truly splendid day, with high temperatures in the low 70s, light northerly winds, and fairly dry air. Like, it will be just about perfect. Friday night will be cool again, with lows in the lower 50s.

Friday morning looks to be the chilliest morning of the forecast period. (Weather Bell)

Saturday

Expect more sunshine on Saturday, with high temperatures a bit warmer, in the upper 70s for much of Houston, but possibly the lower 80s for a few inland areas. With a more southeasterly flow, lows on Saturday night will only drop into the mid-50s.

Sunday

Another day with mostly sunny skies. Highs will likely be a few degrees lower on Sunday, in the low- to mid-70s, with perhaps a few clouds arriving during the afternoon hours. There will be a slight chance of rain on Sunday night into Monday morning, but only a slight one. Beginning on Sunday we are also likely to see a more pronounced southerly wind, so conditions could be a bit gusty at times. Lows on Sunday night should remain in the 60s.

Next week

Monday and Tuesday of next week look to bring cloudier and more humid weather, with highs in the upper 70s to possibly lower 80. We’re starting to see some indications that a cool front next Tuesday or Tuesday night may bring with it a chance of storms as it rumbles through Houston. At this vantage point we don’t really have many details or any certainty, so we can’t say much more. But it is something we’ll keep an eye on as that’s the opening night of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. After the front’s passage we’ll see high temperatures in the—you guessed it, 70s—and cooler nights.

Houston is about to experience some of its nicest weather of the year

In brief: Tuesday brought gorgeous weather into the region, and if you missed it fear not, there is more to come. We’re going to see continued mild conditions and sunny skies through much of the weekend as spring marches into Houston and hangs around for awhile.

Wednesday

There is less widespread fog this morning, but it is still present in some locations so take a little extra care on roadways. Beyond the fog, we’ll see sunny skies today with high temperatures likely in the mid- to upper-70s. Winds will come from the south at 5 to 10 mph with moderate humidity levels. So basically, really really nice outside. Lows tonight will fall to around 60 degrees in Houston, with slightly cooler conditions further inland.

Thursday

A modest front will sag into Houston beginning Thursday morning, and pushing into the city by around noon. This will be most noticeable with the increased cloud cover. Although I cannot rule out some light showers, I don’t think most of us will see any rain. Highs Thursday will be in the low- to mid-70s, with drier air arriving in time to push lows on Thursday night down to around 50 degrees in Houston.

Friday morning will be somewhat chilly for inland areas. (Weather Bell)

Friday

This is going to be a splendid day, with high temperatures around 70 degrees, low humidity, light winds, and lots of sunshine. This could be a top-10 day in terms of weather this year in Houston. Friday night will again see lows near 50 degrees in Houston.

Saturday

For those who like conditions a little bit warmer, Saturday will also be excellent, with plenty of sunshine and highs in the upper 70s. Winds will again be light, but as they shift to come more from the offshore, Saturday night will be warmer, with lows only falling into the mid-50s or so.

Sunday

We’ll see some clouds on Sunday, which may help limit highs in the mid-70s. It will also feel a bit more humid out. Lows on Sunday night will only fall into lower 60s for most, so a bit of a warmer night.

Dewpoints in the 60s on Tuesday signal higher humidity levels. (Weather Bell)

Next week

Monday and Tuesday look warmer, with partly sunny skies and highs near 80 degrees. We’ll also flirt with some Houston-like humidity on Tuesday. However, a front arrives later on Tuesday or Tuesday night, and this should usher in some cooler weather for the rest of the week. The front may also deliver some showers, but the signal for this is not overly strong.

Aside from the fog, this week will offer idyllic spring-time weather

In brief: Houston will see spring-like weather for as far as the eye can see, with generally moderate temperatures and plenty of sunshine. The only blemish will be the potential for foggy mornings through Thursday before a weak front ushers some drier air into the region.

Tuesday

We are seeing widespread fog again this morning, and this pattern will repeat itself again on Wednesday morning, so be prepared. However as temperatures rise this morning, the fog will dissipate and we’ll be left with sunny, brilliant skies. High temperatures today will generally reach the lower 70s, with reasonably dry air. Winds will be light, from the southeast at 5 to 10 mph. It’s hard to beat this kind of weather, so if you can snatch a few moments outside this afternoon, you should. Lows tonight will drop into the low- to mid-50s, with fog developing again after midnight.

High temperatures on Tuesday will be extremely nice. (Weather Bell)

Wednesday

After the fog lifts on Wednesday we’ll see another mostly sunny day, with temperatures a bit warmer, in the upper 70s. Humidity will be a bit higher on Wednesday, but it won’t be unpleasant. Lows will be warmer, generally in the upper 50s. Fog development is likely again on Wednesday night before a cold front slides into the area on Thursday.

Thursday

The front’s arrival is likely to be a non-event aside from the development of some clouds on Thursday morning, possibly into the afternoon hours. While we cannot entirely exclude the possibility of a few light showers, I think the front’s arrival will be dry. Highs will be a bit cooler on Thursday, perhaps around 70 degrees. Lows on Friday night will likely fall to around 50 degrees in Houston, with cooler conditions for inland areas. With lower dewpoints, we should finally be rid of the fog for a bit.

Friday

We can expect another sunny, pleasant day with high temperatures in the vicinity of 70 degrees. Lows on Friday night will, again, fall to around 50 degrees, or a tick warmer.

Saturday

The first half of the weekend looks gorgeous. We can expect mostly sunny skies, and high temperatures generally in the low- to mid-70s. Some clouds will start to build during the afternoon and evening hours, and this will herald a slightly warmer night, in the mid- to upper-50s.

Here’s the NOAA rain accumulation forecast for now through Sunday. (Weather Bell)

Sunday

This will likely be a partly to mostly cloudy day, with highs in the 70s. As the overall flow turns more southerly and the atmosphere more disturbed, we could see the possibility of a few light showers at some point on Sunday or Sunday night or Monday. But this is far from a slam dunk. Sunday night will be warmer, with lows possibly falling only to the lower 60s.

Next week

Our weather turns more humid on Monday and Tuesday, with high temperatures likely pushing up toward 80 degrees. Rain chances look to be modest, but non-zero. At some point, possibly on Wednesday, a front will push through to bring temperatures down. Even so, we are probably looking at nighttime lows around 50 degrees after the front, so it will likely be mildly chilly, rather than cold.