Happy Fall Day, Houston—you’ve earned it

After a dreadful September that entailed a devastating tropical storm, 100-degree heat, and unending humidity, the season’s first fall front dragged into Houston on Monday. It’s not super strong, but after nearly five months of summer-like weather it will be strong enough. And with the promise of more cool fronts on the way, we are well and truly entering fall.

Monday

The first six days of October have produced an average temperature of 82.6 degrees, which is 7.7 degrees warmer than normal. Today’s high temperature may not even reach 82.6 degrees as a mix of drier and cooler air move into Houston. As the front blows in, winds could gust up as high as 20mph this afternoon.

Tonight should be especially sublime as drier air at sunset will push low temperatures into the 60s this evening—a wonderful time for a walk or whatever outdoors. Low temperatures by Tuesday morning should drop into the upper-50s for inland areas, and low 60s for most of the rest of Houston. It’s all nice enough that we’re declaring today to be our annual Fall Day holiday.

Low temperatures for Monday night into Tuesday morning. (Pivotal Weather)

Tuesday

This should be a great early fall day, with sunny skies, highs in the low- to mid-80s, and overnight lows a couple a degrees warmer than Monday night.

Wednesday and Thursday

Warmer conditions return to Houston as the onshore flow resumes. Highs will creep back into the upper 80s, and unfortunately nighttime temperatures are going back into the 70s. Skies should be mostly sunny.

Friday

A stronger cold front arrives on Friday, and this should make for a breezy day. Rain chances will be in the 50 percent range along with the front, with accumulations only measured in the tenths of an inch most likely. Highs Friday will depend on the timing of the front.

Next weekend

Next weekend looks pretty glorious in the wake of Friday’s cold front. The details are still fuzzy, but we can have pretty high confidence in the broad outlines of our weather. The days are going to be partly to mostly sunny, with highs likely in the 70s. Overnight lows for most of the region should be in the 50s. This will truly be fall!

Early forecast for low temperatures on Saturday morning. Check out the Panhandle! (Weather Bell)

Tropics

Because we haven’t explicitly said so earlier this year—due to the ongoing heat and lack of fronts—we’ll say it now. The Texas hurricane season is over. Done. Stick a fork in it. Good riddance!

17 thoughts on “Happy Fall Day, Houston—you’ve earned it”

    • A little generous on the 8-4 split.. I’d say more like 7-5…and if the last few years are any indication, it’s not trending in the right direction.

      • I thought this last spring was heavenly, and I was pregnant so you’d think I’d be extra picky! We didn’t even start using our AC until the end of May.

      • We actually had an actual nice Spring in 2019. Fairly mild weather and temps up until early June if I recall correctly. Rare, I know, but it was glorious.

  2. It was still 80 at 630 AM this morning on the SE side. Had the front just not made it through yet?

    • Are you suggesting that this “hype-free” weather blog would ever do something as dumb as hype the crap out of a very very mild cool front?

      • No, I will disagree with that. I like the concept of “Fall Day”; it is a fun way to discuss the weather. My only quiblle is that tomorrow should get the declaration. What do y’all think?

  8. September has been VERY hot but at least we can be thankful we didn’t get a Harvey or an Ike or anything like that. Yes,, Imelda was troublesome and still it was not of the frightening sort as Ike or Harvey. I’ll take searing white hot 100 degrees over Ike or Harvey. Maybe we can put the misbegotten good old summertime in our rearview mirror. Bye, Bye Blistering Baby!

  9. Not detecting any change in the air out here in West Houston. It’s 3 pm and still feels warm and gummy out there. What gives, Front? 😒

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