Scattered rain possible this week before a front dries out the weekend

Good morning. Houston’s relatively mild weather for May will continue for awhile thanks to a front this week, and frankly we should savor these days as summer looms just around the corner.

Today

A few stray showers passed across Houston on Tuesday, and we’ll probably see similar conditions today—which is to say mostly cloudy skies with a slight chance of brief showers. Clouds should help limit high temperatures to the mid-80s, which is near normal for this time of year. Overnight temperatures remain warm and humid.

Thursday and Friday

Rain chances will increase marginally on toward the end of the work week as an upper-level low pressure system moves across the United States, and pushes a late season cold front through Texas. This will perturb our moist atmosphere enough such that we could squeeze out some rain showers ahead of the front on Thursday, and with its passage on Friday by or before noon. Amounts won’t be significant, with totals likely around one to two tenths of an inch for areas that do get rain. Highs on Thursday and Friday will likely reach the mid- to upper-80s.

(Space City Weather is sponsored this month by Jetco Delivery)

Saturday and Sunday

It won’t be “cold” in the wake of Friday’s front, but it will be drier, and this will lead to cooler nights. Look for mostly sunny days this weekend, with highs in the mid-80s and lows in the mid-60s. Mornings and evenings will be spectacular given the drier air.

Next week

Of course the low humidity won’t last forever, given that this is Houston, and the proximity of summer. Moisture levels will start rising later on Sunday or Monday, given the return flow from the Gulf of Mexico. By Tuesday or so of next week we’ll probably be in an almost summer-like pattern, with highs in the upper 80s, lows around 70, and a chance of afternoon showers.

Posted at 6:50am CT on Wednesday by Eric