Houston sets a record low Tuesday, but spring returns later today

It’s another very cold morning for early April, with temperatures in the 30s for much of the metro area away from the coast. The low at Bush Intercontinental Airport dropped to 37 degrees this morning, which breaks the record low temperature for this day (38 degrees) set in 1996. This has been the region’s strongest April cold front in at least 20 years, although it can’t rival 1973, when a freeze was recorded in Houston as late as April 10. Anyway, after this morning, we’re done with very cold nights like this not just for now, but probably until November.

Tuesday morning temperatures are quite cold for the region. (National Weather Service)

Tuesday

After the cold start, we’re in for a gorgeous day. Expect full sunshine, with highs around 70 degrees, dry air, and light winds. In short, today should be nigh on perfect. Lows tonight will fall down to around 50 north of Houston, with mid- to upper 50s along the coast. For my tastes, I could not draw up a more perfect day.

Wednesday

By Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, the onshore flow will resume, and we can expect increasing clouds. While we can’t rule out some rain, chances are 20 percent, or less. Highs will be in the low 70s. Overnight temperatures Wednesday night aren’t likely to fall below the mid-60s.

See full post

Enjoy winter’s last gasp, Houston. You know what’s coming.

Temperatures have reached the mid- to upper-30s across the northern reaches of the Houston metro area this morning, offering the region a final, fleeting taste of winter. As of 6:20 a.m. CT, the mark of 39 degrees at Bush Intercontinental Airport ties the record low for today, set in 1989. It is, indeed, quite chilly out with a light northerly wind, so dress accordingly this morning.

Monday

Skies will be clearing today, but with a bit of unsteady air aloft, we can’t entirely rule out a few stray showers this afternoon. However, most of us will not see rain, but rather partly to mostly sunny skies, and highs of around 60 degrees. This is nearly in line for normal low temperatures this time of year. Lows Monday night will be cold again (see map below), but temperatures probably should be a couple of degrees warmer than Sunday night.

Monday night will offer one last, chilly night for this spring. (Pivotal Weather)

Tuesday

An absolutely splendid day: Highs around 70 degrees, mostly sunny skies, light winds. Overnight lows in the 50s. Play hooky.

Wednesday

Moisture will be returning inland later on Tuesday, and that will allow for the development of clouds on Wednesday. Rain chances are low (about 20 percent) but not non-existent, as highs push into the mid-70s (it will be even warmer if the sun can break through the clouds for a bit).

See full post

Amazing, sunny weather ends before the weekend in Houston

It’s been a grand, spring-like week with lots of sunshine and dry air for Houston. That splendiferous pattern will soon end as the weekend approaches.

Thursday

After a few clear and sunny days, some clouds are beginning to return to the sky this morning as winds turn east. Today will still see some sunshine, and this will allow highs to get into the mid- to upper-70s. Later this afternoon winds will turn out of the southeast, and gust up to 20mph signalling the return of much more moist air.

Lows Thursday night will be warmer than what we’ve seen this week. (National Weather Service)

Friday

Skies will turn mostly cloudy, as high pressure completely exits the region off to the east later on Thursday. Winds will continue to blow out of the south, and southeast throughout the day. This will allow for a slight chance of light rain showers across the region, but chances appear less than 20 percent. Highs will get up to near 80 degrees, despite the clouds, and it’ll feel quite humid outside.

See full post

If allergies are bothering you, the problem could be indoors

As we noted in this morning’s post, it’s allergy season outdoors, particularly from tree pollen. Sneezing, itchy eyes and other symptoms are pretty common right now. But did you know there are indoor irritants that can also cause these symptoms and you can do something about it? With this post, our sponsor Reliant wanted readers to know that now is a great time to consider what you can do to improve the quality of the indoor air inside your home.

The first step is to determine whether you need an indoor air quality check-up. If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, then it is probably a good idea:

  • Do you have respiratory issues that improve when you leave your home?
  • Does the air inside your home feel damp or stuffy?
  • Do you smoke inside?
  • When you enter your home, do you notice that smells linger?

So what is an air quality check-up? As part of this service, air quality specialists perform a visual inspection of your home’s HVAC system, assessing the quality of the air you and your family breathe. There could be any number of underlying problems, from poor ventilation to unexpected sources of odors and allergens.

The goal of the assessment is to diagnose those problems, and then find solutions that leave you with a healthier, fresher home. Here are some of the potential solutions available to improving the air quality inside your home:

  • UV lights to reduce viruses and bacteria in your HVAC coils
  • Air cleaners that capture up to 99.98% of allergens and bacteria
  • Media filters that capture dust and debris and enhance the efficiency of your HVAC system
  • In-duct air purifiers that provide whole-home purification

Reliant offers an indoor air quality assessment for just $49. This service is available to anyone, regardless of electricity provider, but Reliant customers receive 10 percent off.

People often think Reliant only provides electricity, but they do a lot more than that! They want to ensure Houstonians feel safe and secure in their home, which is why their home services team provides indoor air quality checks, along with HVAC repair and efficiency services, home maintenance and home security. If you’re interested in having your home’s air assessed, please call (833) 480-7835.