Eric Berger

Good morning. Houston will continue to see a slow warming trend heading into the weekend before the arrival of two cold fronts nudge the region back into winter-like weather. Unfortunately, we’ll likely see some decent rain chances over the weekend until the second front pushes completely through.

Wednesday

Lows are starting out in the low- to mid-40s today, and we’ll warm into the mid- to upper-70s under sunny skies. Our nearly calm winds will shift to come from the south later today or tonight, and that will mark the beginning of an onshore flow. Low temperatures tonight will be around 50 degrees in the city itself, with cooler conditions inland, and warmer near the coast.

Thursday

Skies should again be mostly sunny, and temperatures should again climb into the upper 70s. However, with continuing light, southerly winds we’ll start to see humidity levels creep up, and Thursday night’s temperatures should only drop into the low 60s for most.

Friday and Saturday

The pattern becomes more complex by the end of the work week, as an upper-level low pressure system approaches Houston from the west. By Friday, our atmospheric moisture levels will have increased to moderate levels, and this combined with rising air should lead to widespread rain showers later in the day. I expect these rains to be light to moderate, with accumulations of 0.25 to 0.75 inches for most people. Highs on Friday should reach the mid-70s.

At some point on Saturday, likely during the morning hours, a cold front should push into Houston, likely pushing off the coast around noon. Skies may clear a little bit on Saturday afternoon and evening in the wake of the front.

Sunday

Lows on Saturday night will probably drop to around 50 degrees in the city, but then we should see a second frontal passage on Sunday that will bring still colder and much drier air to the region. It’s looking like this second front may produce some additional showers on Sunday, and then dry out quickly as blustery, northerly winds kick into gear. Lows by Sunday night or Monday morning could drop into the upper 30s for areas away from the coast.

Next week

I think the general pattern next week will be one of warming after Sunday’s front, but I don’t have much confidence in the details. I know a lot of you have asked and wondered about Christmas Day weather, but right now it’s just too early to say anything meaningful. We’ll put out a preliminary forecast next Monday.

Good morning! I want to thank the teachers at Seabrook Intermediate, and the science program led by Rebecca Rolater, for letting me judge their annual science fair on Monday. It’s been an incredibly difficult year for teachers, so it’s great to see them persevere through the pandemic, and always uplifting to see the creative ideas kids have for projects. It gives one hope for the future. Now, on to the weather…

Tuesday

Temperatures have generally dropped into the upper 30s to low 40s across much of Houston this morning, and we’ll continue to see pleasant, sunny weather for a few more days as high pressure dominates. Expect high temperatures today to reach around 70 degrees, with light westerly winds. Temperatures Tuesday night will be a few degrees warmer for your location than Monday night.

Wednesday and Thursday

Expect more sunshine, and a modest warming trend, as we get deeper in the week, and our weather will begin to change further by early Thursday, as the onshore flow returns. This will begin to bump up our humidity levels. Otherwise, expect highs in the mid-70s both days, with mostly sunny skies. Overnight lows on Wednesday night will be about 50 degrees, and jump up to 60 by Friday morning.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

We’re still not all that confident about our forecast for this weekend. We can say that Friday should be mostly cloudy, with highs in the 70s, and some decent rain chances during the daytime and overnight hours—much of the area could see 0.25 to 0.75 inches of rain. However, we’re still not certain of what happens after that.

It’s possible that a front will barrel all the way into Houston, and off the coast, drying the region out by Saturday morning. Or the front could get hung up northwest of, or on top of Houston. This would lead to continuing moderate rain chances and warmer conditions on Saturday for much of the region. This front, or a secondary push of drier air, will eventually make it through and off the coast, so we expect a cooler and sunny day for Sunday, with highs perhaps struggling to reach 60 degrees.

Next week

There is a fair amount of discrepancy in the models about how cold things will get early next week in the wake of the front. For now, I think lows in the city itself will probably get down to around 40 degrees by Monday morning or so. Another front may push through on Tuesday night, to keep the region on the cooler side for a few more days.

Good morning. December has started out on the chilly side, with average temperatures generally running about 5 degrees below normal since the start of the month. The question is, will this trend continue? As you may recall, seasonal forecasts predicted a generally warmer than normal winter for the region. This probably still holds as I think the middle of December will likely bring warmer weather—with a sustained stretch of highs in the 70s—but right now I’m not seeing any evidence in the models of abnormally weather for weeks on end. I guess we’ll just have to see how things unfold.

Monday

Conditions are clear and cool this morning, with temperatures generally in the 40s across the region. We’ll see a splendid winter day, with highs climbing into the mid-60s for much of Houston, along with sunny skies, and light northerly winds. With clear skies and light winds prevailing overnight, lows on Monday night may drop into the upper 30s for a few areas north and west of Houston, but generally most of the city should remain the 40s.

Tuesday and Wednesday

Temperatures will warm slightly, with a pair of sunny days expected. Highs will reach about 70 degrees both days, with lows both nights generally in the upper 40s—although the coast will probably only fall into the low 50s. Dry air will prevail. However, by Wednesday evening or so, the onshore flow will return, and this will presage warmer nights and better rain chances later in the week.

Thursday and Friday

With southerly winds, we may start to see some clouds on Thursday, but rain chances should hold off until Friday. Highs likely will reach the mid-70s on Thursday, but the overnight temperature will be much warmer, likely only dropping into the low- to mid-60s for much of the metro area. Friday will see more clouds and healthy rain chances. Right now I’m expecting only modest accumulations, with 0.25 to 1 inch of rain for most of the area. Highs Friday should again reach into the low 70s.

Saturday and Sunday

The weekend outlook remains a bit uncertain. The most likely scenario is that a cold front pushes into the region by late Friday night or early Saturday morning, leading to sunny and cooler weather for both weekend days. But the ensemble members of both the GFS and European models are not fully bought in—so for now our forecast is a “probably.” If the front stalls before pushing through Houston, Saturday may end up rather warm and potentially rainy before the front more definitively pushes through on Saturday night or Sunday.

Next week

Houston will probably see something of a warming trend by Tuesday or so of next week and after that it may be a bit before we see another front. This is the time where I could see a week or so of warmer weather in the December 15 to 20 range—but we’re now getting to the point where forecasting becomes highly speculative.

A cold front has pushed through Houston, and the region will now see a period of sustained cooler weather and drier air. The front’s arrival was preceded by fairly widespread showers on Wednesday, capping a wet period over the last six days. During this time frame the metro area generally received 3 to 7 inches of rainfall, which will really benefit our trees. After what had been a really dry fall in terms of precipitation, the Houston region is now set up pretty well headed into a La Niña winter, which are typically drier than normal.

Thursday

Speaking of winter, it’s back. Temperatures are generally in the 40s this morning, and although skies will clear from west to east this morning, most of the region likely won’t warm past the mid-50s. A northerly breeze at 10 to 15 mph will make things feel quite cool. Moderate northerly winds will continue tonight, as low temperatures fall to around 40 degrees in the city of Houston. I don’t think outlying areas will see a light freeze, but areas north and west of the city will fall into the 30s.

Friday

A day a lot of like Thursday, albeit with lessening winds.

Saturday and Sunday

Do you have outdoor plans this weekend? If so, you’re in luck. High temperatures should moderate some, rising into the low 60s. Overnight lows will generally fall into the 40s. And with high pressure dominating we should see partly to mostly sunny skies throughout the weekend.

Next week

The general pattern for next week seems fairly clear—Monday and Tuesday should remain on the cooler side of things before a general warming trend begins from Wednesday onward. Highs likely will reach 70 degrees by Thursday or so. Rain chances seem minimal from now until at least next Friday, further underscoring the importance of the rain Houston received over the last six days.