Have no sorrow—hot today, but cool tomorrow

You know the late-summer heat is getting to me when I start to write rhyming headlines. But here’s the deal. It’s going to be pretty hot today, and then fairly warm again this weekend after a brief front. However, after we get through about next Monday, I think we’re pretty much done with any chance of hitting 90 degrees for the rest of 2019.

Tuesday

As noted above, today is going to be quite hot. The western half of the metro area has a strong chance of reaching 90 degrees—it’s all going to depend on how much sunshine can break through the clouds. But certainly it will be sticky today and this evening. The other story for today will be the approach of a cool front tonight, which should drive showers and thunderstorms after sunset Tuesday. It looks as though the best dynamics for any storms and heavier showers should be north of Houston—perhaps northwest of a line from The Woodlands and Brenham. However areas north of Interstate 10 probably have a good chance to pick up 0.25 to 1 inch of rain tonight, whereas areas closer to the coast probably will see a little bit less than this.

Some parts of the Valley could reach 100 degrees on Tuesday. (Weather Bell)

Wednesday

The front itself should push into the metro area after midnight, and off the coast by mid-morning or noon at the latest. Some light showers may linger in the wake of the front, but mostly this should be a cloudy day, with highs in the 70s and a cool northerly breeze. Lows Wednesday night should drop down to around 60 degrees.

Thursday

This should be another cloudy day, albeit with the possibility of some partial clearing during the afternoon. High temperatures will work their way into the mid-70s. Low temperatures on Thursday night should be a few degrees warmer as the cool front washes away.

See full post

Slightly unsettled weather returns to Houston this week

After a splendid weekend, Houston’s weather turns a little more unsettled this week, with a weak front, and on-and-off rain chances.

Monday

A warm front moving inland from the Gulf today should drive fairly widespread showers throughout the day. Rain with a few embedded thunderstorms will be more likely near the coast this morning, and spread further inland later this morning and during the afternoon hours. Overall, accumulations for most people will likely be a few tenths of an inch of rain, with perhaps one-half to two-thirds of the area seeing at least some brief showers. Highs will be in the mid-80s with mostly cloudy skies. Lows will only fall in the mid-70s.

Tuesday

This will be a hot day, with highs likely reaching 90 degrees in some locations under partly sunny skies. Rain chances will drop back to about 30 percent for Houston.

Tuesday will be a hot day for Houston. (Pivotal Weather)

Wednesday

At some point on Wednesday, likely during the morning hours, a cold front will push through the area and off the coast. Some storms are likely to accompany this front, although they may weaken as they approach Houston. In any case, after the rain, Wednesday will be cloudy and cooler, with highs in the mid-70s.

Thursday

This, certainly, will be the pick of the litter for this week. Morning lows will probably reach the upper 50s for inland areas. Highs likely will climb into the mid-70s under mostly sunny skies. This front won’t last long, but it should deliver one great day of weather.

See full post

Full on summer returns to Houston—for one day

If you’ve been missing summer, you’re in luck. It returns for a one-day engagement Thursday with highs of around 90 degrees. My guess is that we’ve only got two or three days with 90-degree temperatures left in 2019, so if you really like the heat please get outside and enjoy it today. Cooler weather arrives Friday.

Thursday

Today will be quite warm, with highs of 90 degrees in the city of Houston, and possibly mid-90s just to the west, in places like Katy. Mostly sunny skies will amplify the heat, and we’ll get no respite from the humidity as the sun goes down tonight. (Just as the Tampa Bay Rays will not get any respite from the Astros’ bats tonight).

Friday

But that all changes on Friday. A potent fall cold front has been sweeping down the central United States, and it will reach the Houston area on Friday morning. Areas such as College Station will likely see the frontal passage before sunrise, and it should move into central Houston by around 10am, and push off the coast around Noon. A broken line of light-to-moderate showers should accompany the frontal passage, but any storms should be short-lived.

NAM model forecast for the position of the cold front at 9am CT Friday. (Weather Bell)

Conditions after the front will be significantly drier, cooler, and gustier. We can’t entirely rule out some light rain after the front’s passage, but for the most part it will be just cloudy. With the lack of sunshine, and winds gusting to 25 mph (or higher, along the coast), you may well want a longer-sleeved shirt or light jacket on Friday afternoon and evening.

See full post

Warming briefly before fine, fall weather this weekend

Houston is enjoying another moderately cool morning, with lows generally in the 60s for most of the region. This brief respite from summer will gradually end today, but a stronger taste of fall arrives on Friday. The weekend looks pretty amazing after a breezy front blows through.

Wednesday

An easterly breeze will shift to come out of the south the morning, and this will herald the return of the onshore flow. Conditions today will still be fairly moderate, temperature-wise, with highs generally climbing into the mid-80s. However we’re not going to see as much cooling this evening with the absence of drier air. Lows for most of Houston probably will only get into the low- to mid-70s.

Thursday’s high temperatures are, umm, sporty. (Pivotal Weather)

Thursday

Welcome back, summer! This will be a mostly sunny day, with high temperatures of around 90 degrees. Thursday night will be muggy, too, with lows on the mid- to upper-70s.

Friday

This day will have the week’s most dynamic weather. This will be a classic cold front passage, with a boundary barreling through the Houston region, likely during the morning hours. We can expect at least scattered, if not widespread, showers with the front, and perhaps a few thunderstorms. But they should pass pretty quickly as the front sweeps toward the coast by around noon or shortly thereafter.

See full post