Eric Berger

Unsettled weather will continue for Houston today, as relatively small-scale, but intense showers and thunderstorms bring widespread rainfall to the area. These are nasty storms to try and forecast because while parts of central and southern Houston have received less than one-quarter an inch of rain during the last 24 hours, some parts of southern Brazoria County have received more than 9 inches.

Today

A flash flood watch remains in effect for central and southern parts of the Houston metro area today through about 4pm, as the heaviest rains are likely to continue to fall between the coast and downtown Houston. The storms are being driven by high moisture content and small features in the atmosphere. Additional rainfall amounts may be as much as 2-3 inches of rain, with higher isolated amounts.

These storms have been pretty unpredictable (certainly there was little expectation of a nine-inch rain bomb just south of Houston on Monday and Monday night), so we’ll have to keep on alert for most of today. While I don’t expect major problems for most of Harris County, you just never know when atmospheric moisture levels get this high (about 1.8 inches of precipitable water) during the spring and summer months in Houston.

(Space City Weather is sponsored this month by The Mole, a Jonathon Price novel.)

See full post

After a calm Easter weekend, some modest storm chances return to Houston this week. We’re also going to have a real cold front at the end of the week, which should be one of the last of the season, so we should look forward to that.

Today

A complex of showers and thunderstorms has developed over South Texas this morning, from Brownsville to Corpus Christi. This system should moved to the east-northeast later this morning, and may bring some scattered storms into the Houston region. I think the threat is probably highest for areas to the southwest of Houston (i.e. from El Campo to Lake Jackson), but there’s enough moisture out there that we can’t rule out some storms making it into the entire Houston area. These storms could produce some heavy rains over a few areas, while parts of Houston remain dry. Highs today will reach the low 80s.

Tuesday

Another potentially unsettled day, with low pressure hanging around the Texas coast, and atmospheric moisture. Most areas will probably only see a few tenths of an inch of rain—or less, and I’m not overly concerned about the threat of severe weather. Highs again in the low 80s.

(Space City Weather is sponsored this month by The Mole, a Jonathon Price novel.)

See full post

For some southern areas of Houston, rains Wednesday were quite a bit heavier than forecast. It appears that some small-scale fronts (similar to a cold front) collided and, along with the sea breeze, were capable of producing some locally heavy rain. Calmer conditions should prevail for the rest of the week. Also, if you missed it Wednesday, be sure and check out Matt’s round-up of Galveston’s ridiculous winter and spring weather.

Today and Friday

After some fog burns off this morning, the region will see mostly sunny skies today and Friday, with highs of around 80 degrees. After Wednesday’s heavy showers, I’m not ready to entirely rule out some rain showers, especially to the west and southwest of Houston, but I’d be surprised if any form.

Saturday

Highs of around 80 degrees will remain, but rain chances will increase a little bit as moisture levels rise. Any rain should be light, however.

(Space City Weather is sponsored this month by The Mole, a Jonathon Price novel.)

See full post

Well, the rains made it through the area on Tuesday after all. It was a good, steady rain for the most part, not too extreme in terms of amounts, nor bringing with it much severe weather. Our lawns and trees will be thankful after a mostly dry start to the month.

Today

The rain made it, in part because a cool front made it all the way through. Temperatures this morning are generally in the low 60s this morning across the Houston region, with a northerly breeze. It’s pleasant. Highs today should reach into the upper 70s, with mostly sunny skies. We can’t rule out a few stray showers along the coast, however, as winds swing back out of the south to southeast.

Thursday through Saturday

The rest of the week will see fair conditions, with partly to mostly sunny skies, highs in the low 80s, and overnight lows in the mid- to upper-60s. These aren’t exactly spring-like conditions, but in a few months we’ll look back on this kind of weather fondly. I won’t entirely rule out a few light rain showers, but those will be the exception, rather than the rule.

(Space City Weather is sponsored this month by The Mole, a Jonathon Price novel.)

See full post