Houston faces a stretch of colder weather before conditions turn milder to ring in the new year

Good morning. This post has come out a bit late because Matt is traveling, and I needed to complete my final long training run for the Houston Marathon. So I awoke at an unseemly hour. The upside is that I can attest that it’s a lovely winter morning outside—I was out there for several hours getting to mile 20. The downside is that I’m pretty wrecked. Also, to the truck driver on 646 who laid into your horn pretty good early this morning, I’m gonna assume that honk was an ‘attaboy’ rather than a ‘get off the road a-hole.’ Because it’s the holiday season and all.

Wednesday

After starting out in the 40s, the region will warm nicely today with mostly sunny skies. Highs generally should get into the low- to mid-60s with plenty of dry air. Winds will be light, from the northwest. Temperatures on Wednesday night will drop into the upper 30s, so a little cooler due to clear skies and a bit of a reinforcing front.

Low temperature forecast for Friday morning. (Weather Bell)

Thursday and Friday

These will be a pair of chilly, winter days. Both will see sunny skies and northwesterly winds with highs in the 50s. The question in regard to the forecast comes with low temperatures on Thursday and Friday nights. It still looks like the Houston metro area will remain just above freezing, with lows in the range of 35 to 38 degrees. But outlying areas, including Montgomery County and other inland regions, face the distinct possibility of a light freeze.

Saturday, Sunday, and Monday

The holiday weekend will see a warming trend. Skies should be mostly sunny on Saturday, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, with respective highs around 60 degrees, upwards of 70 degrees, and then back down to around 60 degrees to start 2024. If your plans including celebrating the New Year, I’d anticipate temperatures in the 50s in the hours leading up to midnight on New Year’s Eve. There is a slight chance of rain, perhaps 10 or 20 percent, as a front rolls through Houston late on Sunday night, or early Monday morning. It probably will be a dry front as there isn’t much atmospheric moisture to work with, but we’ll have to see. All in all, conditions like fine to start a new year.

Temperature forecast for midnight, on New Year’s Eve, as we ring in the new year. (Weather Bell)

Next week

Most of next week looks to have highs of around 60 degrees, give or take, with lows generally in the 40s. A storm system will likely bring some showers on Tuesday and Wednesday, but as of now accumulations aren’t anything to get worked up about—probably a few tenths of an inch.

20 thoughts on “Houston faces a stretch of colder weather before conditions turn milder to ring in the new year”

  1. I love your opening comments. I used to ultramarathon cycle, doing 100 miles a morning and 400 mile races. It always warmed my heart at the honks I would receive encouraging me to ride faster.

  2. I had a good laugh at that interpretation of what a long honk could be. Not that you’re wrong in the least.

    I’m loving this cold weather: it makes for great sleeping, especially during this dead holiday week. I tip my hat to you for running in the cold dark to keep up the training. Attaboy! (No honking involved here.)

  4. Thank you for a nice forecast for New Year’s at midnight. My wife and I started a tradition about 18 years ago where we build a gingerbread house on Christmas. We then make a big boom on New Year’s Eve at midnight sending candy flying everywhere. Yep we blow up our gingerbread house on New Year’s. Candy flies everywhere and the wildlife in the woods get a taste of peppermint and gingerbread.

  5. “So I awoke at an unseemly hour”
    I have a friend who runs the Houston Marathon – and others – and he says he gets up at 2:30 to get ready to run and eat and everything else. I think that’s insane.
    For my long cycle rides I am up at 6 and that’s early enough for a civilized person.

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  7. BEST opening paragraph. Good luck for a successful finish when you do the Houston Marathon. My husband ran it for years; I supported with snacks and water at various intervals. I believe “attaboy” is always the best interpretation of a long honk.

  10. Hello Eric,

    What are the chances of a winter with “no freeze” out here in far west Houston (SH-6 and Westpark Tollway”?

  11. Good to hear your out there running with the rest of us getting ready for the big day. Knowing this, can I expect you’ll have a hand in getting us some great weather on Race day… I gather you’re in the Clear Lake, League City area. Come check out the BARC (Bay Area Running Club) all levels and we meet at different locations around the Lake on different days. Post a question on Strava to find out more.

  12. Well done on your run and glad the truck driver agreed!

    Thanks for your service to our community!

  13. Congrats on your long run! I am rebuilding my marathon distances after injury so I only ran 5. It was great running weather this morning.

  17. 55 mile ride today over at the trails/reservoir. Very windy, the big flags at the car dealerships that they fly to advertise (I thought the US flag was supposed to be flown for patriotic reasons, not advertising) along I10 were standing horizontal. I hate riding in the wind.

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