Cold, clear winter weekend ahead for Houston

Winter has raged back this morning, but we’ll see more moderate conditions by Sunday.

TODAY

As expected, wind chills are in the 20s this morning with northerly wind gusts above 20 mph. It’s quite cold and winds should remain high during the daytime hours. Even though the Sun will shine most of the afternoon, highs will only climb to about 50 degrees.

SATURDAY

As winds die down Friday night, temperatures will fall. Parts of the northern half of the Houston metro area will freeze, and while it’s difficult to say precisely I expect the demarcation line between freezing and not freezing temperatures to fall somewhere north of Interstate 10 in Houston.

Saturday morning forecast low temperatures. (National Weather Service)
Saturday morning forecast low temperatures. (National Weather Service)

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Strong winds replace fog later today, and a light freeze is possible this weekend

Good morning. Please be careful of the foggy conditions this morning!

TODAY

Very dense fog is affecting parts of Houston because of the warm morning temperatures — most of the city is seeing lows only in the low 60s. A dense fog advisory will remain in effect until 9 a.m. after which time it should burn off. Temperatures today should rise into the upper 60s before a strong cold front arrives this afternoon. Scattered thunderstorms are possible. After the front’s passage expect cool, windy conditions, with gusts of 25 mph or greater, this afternoon and tonight.

FRIDAY

Temperatures should fall into the upper 30s on Friday morning, and although skies will clear out, north winds will remain brisk. Highs may not reach 50 degrees. All in all, a rather winter-like day.

GFS model map of wind chill temperatures on Friday morning. It will feel very cold out! (Weather Bell)
GFS model map of wind chill temperatures on Friday morning. It will feel very cold out! (Weather Bell)

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Light rain possible today and Thursday before a cold weekend

Temperatures are mild this morning, in the 50s for most of the Houston area, but a surge of colder air will move in tomorrow.

TODAY

A weak cold front is sagging into southeast Texas (temperatures are in the 40s in Brenham with low humidity), and will stall along the coast later today. This could provide the impetus for some scattered showers this afternoon, but I’m not expecting much rain. Highs will be in the upper 60s.

THURSDAY

A stronger front and upper-level low pressure system will move through Houston on Thursday. Before then highs should reach about 70 degrees. Although we can’t rule out the possibility of a few thunderstorms, right now the best dynamics for severe weather remain to the east, over Louisiana. Winds will pick up out of the north on Thursday afternoon as the front moves through, ending rain chances and likely clearing skies by sunset. Expect a breezy evening and cold night.

FRIDAY

Temperatures will fall to about 40 degrees by Friday morning, and expect continued gusty northern winds as cold air dives down across the Rockies and midwestern United States into Texas. Highs will likely only be in the mid-50s under mostly sunny skies.

SATURDAY

This will be a cold morning. Houston has a chance to see its second freeze of the season, although I expect most of central and southern portions of the metro area to remain just above freezing.

GFS model forecast low temperatures for Saturday morning. (Weather Bell)
GFS model forecast low temperatures for Saturday morning. (Weather Bell)

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Warmer, with light rains, before a cool and sunny winter weekend

Good morning. Houston is warmer this morning, with lows in ranging from the low- to upper-40s, but the respite from winter won’t last too long.

TODAY

As the onshore flow resumes these more southerly winds will bring moisture back into the atmosphere, and we should see increasingly cloudy skies this afternoon and evening. Highs will climb into the upper 60s, somewhat dependent upon how early the clouds move in.

WEDNESDAY

Conditions will change Wednesday as a weak front approaches Houston and likely stalls along the coast. If moisture levels were higher I’d be confident in seeing some decent rain showers, but as we’ve been so dry for awhile, I expect only scattered, light rain on Wednesday, likely during the morning hours. Highs will be in the low 70s.

THURSDAY

A stronger cold front will likely move through the area on Thursday morning, and again I expect to see some scattered showers but nothing too heavy. Perhaps some areas will see a few tenths of an inch of rain, but it should be nothing to write home about. Highs will be about 70 degrees and I expect skies to begin clearing late on Thursday.

FRIDAY, SATURDAY and SUNDAY

The clearing will be driven by a very pronounced ridge of high pressure, shown in the forecast map for the upper level of the atmosphere on Friday, at noon.

Forecast map showing features in upper level of the atmosphere on Friday, noon. (Weather Bell)
Forecast map showing features in upper level of the atmosphere on Friday, noon. (Weather Bell)

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