For those that enjoy Houston-style winter weather, it’s been a treat with a few exceptions over the last few weeks. We’re going to get more of that through next week beginning with the first in a series of fronts later today.
Today
It’s a quiet start this morning with just some clouds around for most. A few sprinkles or showers could develop by late morning. We then expect to see some kind of broken line of showers and storms develop ahead of our first cold front, and press through the Houston area beginning around early afternoon north and west of Houston, and by late afternoon south and east. It appears as though some degree of a “cap” is in place today, which may limit shower and storm development for a time, especially along and south of I-10. However, as the line of showers pushes in, some stronger storms are possible (especially to the north), and the Storm Prediction Center has us in a “marginal” risk of severe weather, the lower-end of the scale.
We don’t expect widespread severe weather, and it will likely be very much the exception rather than the rule, with gusty winds being the main threat.
Showers should end this evening, with partial clearing tonight. Temperatures will top off in the 70s this afternoon, dropping back into the 50s tonight.
Saturday
Nice weather should be the rule for most of us tomorrow. Expect partly to mostly sunny skies to develop, although clouds may try to linger, especially south and east of the city for a time. But for most folks, we think Saturday looks good. It’ll be a bit cooler with highs generally in the mid or upper-60s, perhaps a bit cooler north and west. Winds don’t look too bad behind tonight’s front, so expect north to northwest winds of 5 to 15 mph or so, though perhaps a touch stronger over Galveston Bay and the Gulf.
Sunday
Front number two will be the story for Sunday. Look for scattered showers and storms beginning as early as Sunday morning. Showers and storms should become more numerous through the day, ending around evening. This would be especially true south or east of Highway 59/I-69 we think. Not that areas north and west won’t see rain, but it looks a little less impressive there than to the east. It now appears that Sunday’s front may be the more aggressive one over our area, so if you’re looking to do something outdoors, Saturday is your day.
Total rainfall from the two fronts this weekend will likely add up to about a half-inch to an inch in most of the area. Some locations south and west of Houston may see a bit less and others north and east perhaps a bit more.
Sunday’s temperatures will start in the 50s and peak in the 60s or low-70s. Look for winds to pick up Sunday night to 10 to 20 mph out of the north, with gusts up to 30 to 35 mph over the bays and Gulf.
Monday and Tuesday
Clouds may linger into Monday behind Sunday’s front, giving it a real wintry feel. We will start with lows in the low-40s. Expect highs in the 50s with gradual clearing. If clouds do not clear by Monday afternoon, however, it’s possible we do not see high temperatures get to 50 degrees in spots. Chilly!
Tuesday looks great, however. Look for skies to become mostly sunny with a cool start. We’ll warm from the low or mid-40s into the low or mid-60s.
Wednesday and beyond
A third cold front is likely to push through the region Tuesday night or early Wednesday, ushering in another shot of cool, dry air. This one will lack moisture, so we don’t expect rain. We will see lows on Wednesday and Thursday mornings in the 30s or low-40s. Freezing conditions seem unlikely at this time. High temperatures will only get into the 50s Wednesday and maybe 60-ish on Thursday as it stands right now.
There are signs that perhaps a more aggressive and longer-lasting warming trend may develop by next weekend.That being said, the handful of times we’ve seen this over the last month or so, a cold front has magically appeared within those periods, shortening the warming to just a couple days. Will that happen again this time? More for you on Monday!
So pleasant to read the forecast and say, “Aaaaah!” instead of “Euuurgh!”
Sounds like a typical forecast for Houston in December and January. A cold snap of chilly weather, then warming up, then another cold snap, maybe some rain.