Eric Berger

In brief: This week will bring plenty of sunshine and wind as the region veers through spring. Highs most days will be in the range of 75 to 80 degrees, with some particularly nice weather expected on Thursday. The first half of the weekend looks sunny, but we could see some clouds by Sunday to go along with some slight rain chances.

Spring-time winds

The wind we experience at the surface is due to air moving from high pressure to low pressure, and the bigger the difference, the greater the breeze. During the summer in Houston, we often talk about the sea breeze. This is because the air over land heats up faster than water during the daytime, lowering the air pressure at the surface. (Warm air rises). Since the air pressure is lower at the surface over Houston, air moves in from the Gulf.

The winds we experienced on Saturday, as a cold front moved in, were different. They were moving from north to south, following the influx of a low pressure system (front) at the surface. The more rapid the pressure change, the stronger the wind. This is what we mean by a “tight” pressure gradient. I bring all of this up because we’re going to see several “tight” gradients this week that will lead to winds whipsawing back and forth across the area.

Monday

Sunday was an absolutely gorgeous day in Houston, certainly a top-10 day of the year. Monday will be similar, although not quite as nice (in my opinion, of course). Highs today will reach about 80 degrees with plenty of sunshine, but this will be marred by southerly winds of about 10 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph this afternoon.

If you’re heading out to the Houston rodeo this evening, or celebrating St. Patrick’s Day elsewhere, we have no weather concerns aside from the breeze. Temperatures this evening will be in the lower 70s, with clear skies. Lows will be in the upper 60s after the show, and with the warmer southerly flow we probably will only drop to around 60 degrees in Houston overnight. Some inland locations will be cooler.

Tuesday

This should be another mostly sunny day, with high temperatures near 80 degrees. But as the pressure gradient tightens, we’ll see some fairly strong southerly winds at 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 or possibly even 35 mph. This southerly flow will bring humidity back into the region, and give us a warm night in the 60s with increasing cloud cover.

Wednesday

High temperatures on Wednesday should reach around 80 degrees, or even a bit higher in Houston. This is because a cold front is likely to pass through the area during the late morning hours, bringing in drier air (which heats up more efficiently). Expect northwesterly winds during the afternoon, gusting up to 20 or 25 mph. Lows on Wednesday night will be around 50 degrees.

Thursday

At this point, Thursday looks to bring exceptional weather back into the forecast, with highs in the 70s, sunny skies, and light winds.

Friday

By Friday we’ll probably see offshore winds kicking back up, so expect a breezy day in the 70s with rising dewpoints.

Saturday, Sunday, and beyond

What does the weekend hold? Saturday should be mostly sunny, with highs of around 80 degrees. With a southerly flow in place expect a warm night, with lows in the 60s. As for Sunday, I’m a little less certain. We should see more clouds, highs around 80 degrees, and with increasing moisture there’s a possibility of some showers. (We could use some rain, but this isn’t going to do much to address drying soils I’m afraid). It’s likely that a weak front pushes into the area on Sunday night or Monday, but I’m not confident in the details.

In brief: It has been 136 days since the city of Houston officially recorded a 90-degree day, back on October 27. Today, that may change. Parts of the region will hit likely hit 90 degrees. But that does not mean spring is over. Most of the next 10 days, including this weekend, should continue to bring beautiful, spring-like weather.

Thursday

After patchy fog clears this morning we should be left with sunny skies. The combination of a warm southwesterly flow and a bit of drier air will allow high temperatures to pop up today, with much of the Houston area in the upper 80s, and locations to the west and southwest of the city likely reaching 90 degrees. Only the coast will remain at about 80 degrees. Winds at the surface will, generally, be light at 5 to 10 mph from the southwest.

If you’re heading out to the rodeo this evening be sure to get there early, because a good friend of our family will be singing the national anthem to kick things off. It will be warm this evening, in the mid- to upper-80s. Temperatures will have fallen into the 70s after the show is over. Low temperatures tonight will only fall into the upper 60s for most of the metro area.

Another consideration for tonight’s weather is the lunar eclipse. Totality, at which point the Moon is tinted a coppery red, lasts from 1:26 am CT to 2:31 am CT. Unfortunately skies will likely be partly to mostly cloudy. However, there should be some breaks in the clouds that will allow for visibility of the celestial phenomenon.

Friday

With partly cloudy skies on Friday, and more pronounced southerly winds, high temperatures should be a few degrees cooler, probably in the mid- to upper-80s for most of the region. Given that a cold front is unlikely to push through Houston before Saturday morning, I expect another warm night on Friday, in the mid-60s.

Saturday

The frontal passage looks to be a dry one, but we cannot rule out a few showers on Saturday morning. However skies will quickly be turning sunny, and northerly winds at about 15 mph, with higher gusts, will be usher in lower humidity. Look for high temperatures around 80 degrees, with lows on Saturday night dropping into the mid-50s in Houston, with cooler conditions for inland areas.

Sunday

Expect a truly splendid day, with highs in the mid-70s, sunshine, low humidity, and light winds. This will be a top-10 day in Houston this year, weather-wise. Lows on Sunday night may push down near 50 degrees.

Next week

Monday should be in the 70s again before we push up near 80 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday. Skies should remain mostly sunny throughout. A front on Wednesday will probably knock us back into the 70s for the second half of the week. If you’re wondering about precipitation, we could see a decent shot of rain about 10 days from now. We’ll see.

In brief: After near to below-normal temperatures for much of the last 30 days in Houston, the pendulum swings warmer again. We will have our first flirtation with highs of around 90 degrees by Thursday, although a nice front arrives to usher spring-like weather back into Houston this weekend.

Early season heat

If you remember about a month ago, the city experienced a sold week of high temperatures in the low- to mid-80s during the first 10 days of February. During that time we set several record highs, as well as record warm nighttime temperatures. This spell was followed by a much colder second half of the month. Now, we are about to take another step up in temperatures for a few days this week, with highs in the upper 80s. The record highs for both Thursday and Friday in Houston are 88 degrees, and we’re going to make a run at those records both days. Could someone hit 90 degrees? Some areas to the southwest of Houston definitely have a chance on Thursday.

Wednesday

We’re seeing some patchy fog across the region this morning, but it will burn off as temperatures rise today. Houston will not be as warm today as it will be on Thursday and Friday, but highs should still reach the lower 80s away from the coast, with mostly sunny skies. There is a slight chance of some showers later this afternoon or evening, in association with a weak front. However, chances are low, and likely to be confined to areas north of Highway 105. The most notable feature today will be winds from the south at about 15 mph, with occasional gusts up to 30 mph.

If you’re heading to the rodeo expect temperatures in the upper 70s early this evening. Those winds I mentioned will be peaking late this afternoon and into the early evening, so expect a fairly stiff breeze as you’re moving about. Winds will have died down a little bit after the show, but only a little. Expect temperatures of about 70 degrees late this evening, dropping into the mid-60s by Thursday morning.

Thursday

The combination of some briefly drier air and a warm southerly flow will allow high temperatures to really pop on Thursday. With sunshine, I expect most of Houston to reach the upper 80s, with possibly a few southwest locations reaching 90 degrees for the first time. Lows on Thursday night will again be mild, in the mid-60s.

Friday

This will be another warm day. How warm depends on the extent of cloud cover, but I expect most of Houston to once again get into the mid- to upper-80s. Lows Friday night will drop into the low- to mid-60s again.

Saturday and Sunday

The arrival of a front on Saturday morning (likely with no rain, or very light showers at the most) will set up a splendid weekend. We’re talking dry air and highs in the 70s, and overnight lows around 50 degrees. Saturday may be a little windy with the front’s arrival, but I’m hopeful that gusts will only peak around 20 mph. In any case it should be a gorgeous, spring-like weekend.

Next week

We’ll warm up back toward 80 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday before another front swings through to keep the spring party going during the second half of next week. There’s not a strong signal for rain with the mid-week front, but at this point, who can say?

In brief: Houston’s weather remains mostly calm for the foreseeable future. Two things to watch for this week are uncharacteristically hot temperatures on Thursday, and then a lunar eclipse later that night. Hopefully we’ll see partly cloudy skies so the eclipse is viewable.

Lunar Eclipse

The greater Houston region, indeed all of North America save for the western half of Alaska, will be treated to a total Lunar Eclipse on Thursday night. Unfortunately the eclipse will occur rather late, with the Moon entering the Earth’s umbra (darkest part of its shadow) at 12:09 am CT on Friday morning. Totality, at which point the Moon is tinted a coppery red, lasts from 1:26 am CT to 2:31 am CT. NASA has more information about the eclipse here. So will it be cloudy? I believe our region will see at least partly cloudy skies, and I expect that to increase to mostly cloudy by sunrise on Friday morning. So the forecast is not ideal. However, the totality will last long enough such that I do expect some breaks in the clouds that will allow the eclipse to be visible.

Tuesday

After Monday’s splendid weather we have another pleasant day on tap, with mostly sunny skies. After temperatures start out this morning in the upper 40s, we’ll see highs reach the upper 70s. Expect southwesterly winds, with a few gusts up to 15 or 20 mph later this afternoon. All in all, very, very nice outside today.

There are zero weather concerns for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo this evening. Temperatures will be mild, in the lower 70s, heading into the show, with a breeze from the southwest. After the show, it will be in the low- to mid-60s outside, with mostly clear skies. Lows on Tuesday night will only drop to around 60 degrees with the warmer, southerly flow.

Wednesday

After the potential for some fog on Wednesday morning, we should see a mostly sunny day, with highs reaching around 80 degrees. A weak front will push through, but it’s not going to change much other than bringing some slightly drier air that will play into Thursday’s weather. Low temperatures on Wednesday night will only drop into the low 60s.

Thursday

The combination of slightly drier air and warm air advection from the southwest will lead to a very warm day on Thursday, with some parts of the Houston metro area possibly hitting 90 degrees. Most of us should remain in the upper 80s, but it’s going to feel warm regardless, especially for mid-March. Low temperatures on Thursday night will fall into the mid-60s.

Friday

The development of some clouds may help put a lid on temperatures Friday, holding them generally to the mid-80s. But it will still feel rather warm outside, with a fair amount of humidity. A cold front is coming, but it probably will not arrive until early on Saturday, so expect a fairly warm night.

Saturday and Sunday

I don’t expect much in the way of precipitation with the front, perhaps a few light showers, we’ll see. Quickly afterward we should see clearing skies, probably some time on Saturday morning. As a result we’ll be left with clear skies and lower humidity for the remainder of the weekend. Look for highs in the vicinity of 80 degrees and nights around 50 degrees, give or take. Seriously, this will be an exceptional weekend for outdoor activities.

Next week

We should see a gradual warm-up next week through about Wednesday, at which some point some sort of front is likely to trundle through. Whether this brings us any rain is anyone’s guess. I’ll give it a solid maybe.