Eric Berger

Finally, after the Tax Day floods, the Addicks and Barker Reservoirs have emptied

Nearly three months have come and gone since the Tax Day Floods ravaged the Houston area in April. As you may recall, during these storms rain fell at rates as high as 1 inch in just 5 minutes over parts of Harris County, with a maximum hourly rate of 4.7 inches. The rain topped out at 16.7 inches in just 12 hours over western Harris County. All told, Harris County averaged 7.75″ of rainfall for the event— equivalent to 240 billion gallons of water falling on the area.

One of the most memorable aspects of those floods came when both the Addicks and Barker Reservoirs filled up, and flooded the adjacent Highway 6. These watersheds located upstream of Houston provide flood damage reduction along Buffalo Bayou downstream of the reservoirs and through the center of the city.

A view of the flooded Addicks Reservoir. (John Chandler/Flickr)
A view of the flooded Addicks Reservoir. (John Chandler/Flickr)

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Houston’s low temperatures tie all time records this week

Houston’s warm weather continues, and while the daytime temperatures have been hot—97 degrees for three days in a row—the overnight lows have been exceptional. Let’s discuss the morning heat before jumping into the forecast.

Overnight lows

Houston has had the following “low” temperatures at Bush Intercontinental Airport since Sunday morning:

  • July 3: 80
  • July 4: 82
  • July 5: 83
  • July 6: 82 (as of 7am CT)

As my colleague Matt Lanza noted this morning on Twitter, this is a record-tying run of overnight warmth for Houston. Assuming the city’s low is 82 degrees this morning, Houston will tie for warmest 4-day average minimum temps on record (81.8 degrees).

Record four-day stretches of overnight low temperatures. (Matt Lanza)
Record four-day stretches of overnight low temperatures. (Matt Lanza)

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Houston this week: Hot days, sunny skies, sweaty skin.

Houston has had consecutive days of 97-degree temperatures, and I don’t foresee this heat wave breaking soon. However some relief should eventually arrive in about 10 days time.

Today through Friday

Easy forecast. With high pressure anchored in place highs will be in the mid- to upper-90s, and a heat advisory in effect for today may be extended for much of this week. Lows will be around 80 degrees. Skies mostly sunny. Skin mostly sweaty.

European model temperature anomaly map for now through Friday. Most of Texas is 2 to 5 degrees (Celsius) warmer than normal. (Weather Bell)
European model temperature anomaly map for now through Friday. Most of Texas is 2 to 5 degrees (Celsius) warmer than normal. (Weather Bell)

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Hot, hot, hot—and we’re not talking about fireworks here

We’re in the middle of summer and anyone stepping outside knows it. The official high temperature in Houston reached 96 degrees on Saturday, and we’re in for more of the same hot weather for quite some time.

Saturday through Friday

Yes, you read that right. The forecast for now through next work week is more or less the same as a result of lying under the influence of high pressure. Temperatures will climb into the mid-90s (a bit lower for the coast) and lows will only fall to around 80 degrees (a bit warmer along the coast).Skies will be mostly sunny with near zero rain chances. Some fairly strong winds will blow out of the south for the next few days, coming in from the Gulf.

Houston may see some gusty winds the next few days as air flows along pressure lines at the surface. (Weather Bell)
The Texas coast may see some gusty winds the next few days as air flows along pressure lines at the surface. (Weather Bell)

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