In brief: Heat records are continuing to fall across the region as Houston (and much of Texas) falls under the sway of high pressure. In today’s post we explain just how abnormal this is for May, and look ahead to a hot weekend. There is a modest chance of some relief next week.
Heat records fall
As expected, the city of Houston broke its high temperature record on Wednesday. The new mark of 96 degrees surpasses the old record of 93 degrees, set back in 2018. The local office of the National Weather Service also provided some additional nuggets of information to put this May heat wave into context:
- The average date of the city’s first 95-degree day is June 13, this year we did it on May 13
- Before this year, the last time Houston was this hot, this early in May was 1967 (96 on May 8)
- This year’s mark of 95 on May 13 is the fifth earliest we’ve been that hot it in a calendar year
In addition, we are likely to tie or exceed the city’s record high temperature today (94 degrees, set in 2018) and possibly on Friday (94 degrees, 2022) although by then we might see a very slight moderation in temperatures.
Thursday
If you’ve stepped outside during the last couple days, you have a pretty good idea of what to expect for Thursday. Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to a sunny afternoon, with high temperatures generally in the mid-90s in Houston, with upper 90s possible further inland, and slightly cooler highs closer to the coast. Southerly winds will, again, be gusty from the south at up to 25 mph. Lows tonight will only drop into the upper 70s.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Not much changes this weekend, when most of the area should see highs in the low- to mid-90s. There may be some variance in cloud cover, with a few more clouds on Friday and Sunday, but in general I still expect there to be a fair amount of sunshine during the daytime hours. We can expect that persistent southerly breeze through the weekend, with gusts peaking during the afternoon hours. Nights remain the same, warm and muggy. Rain chances are close to, but not quite zero.
Next week
The first half of next week starts out warm, essentially a continuation of this week’s weather. However much of our model guidance is now hinting at a weak front approaching, and possibly pushing into the area by mid-week. This certainly is no guarantee, and its impact should be limited. But at least it may spark some showers, and give us a bit of drier air. We’ll just have to see how the forecast evolves over the next few days.
“Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.”
Let’s have a more civil comment section today, kids. If you’re thinking of derailing the discussion by posting divisive dumb garbage intended only to troll people—like the comment I deleted just a moment ago—then read the above quote and take it to heart before committing your words to the page.
Just to echo this — we’ve had several climate change “hoax” comments. This is the kind of discourse, that if it continues, is going to lead us to simply close the comments section.
So, just to be clear then – No debate allowed on this platform if one has a difference of opinion? And who decides what is dumb garbage vs a differing point of view?
Differences of opinion are fine. Debate away, but when your opinion is factually incorrect and you keep doubling down on it and posting debunked studies and other BS to try to prop it up in the face of overwhelming evidence, don’t be surprised if it gets removed.
If the thing you want to post is “cLiMaTe cHanGe iS a hOaX,” it’s dumb garbage and not worth hearing. Anthropogenic climate change is settled science among everything except the quack set. You can have an opinion about it, but a factually incorrect opinion like “cLiMaTe cHanGe iS a hOaX” — a claim undermined by massive, overwhelming evidence to the contrary — is worthless and doesn’t deserve space in public discourse. That contributes as much to the conversation as talking about flat earth or 5G mind control or antivax lunacy — more nonsense garbage topics I’m also happy to delete.
Is that clear enough?
Matt/Eric:
Not the forecast anyone wants to hear, but is there anything behind the winds we’ve experienced in H-town over the last 4 months? I may be more in-tune as a pilot, but the winds have been higher and more sustained over days than I’ve experienced in my 19 years in this country.
I don’t think these winds are particularly abnormal for this time of year.
I love the forecast that is posted everyday direct simple with that I have been in Texas since 1991 ( Houston/area ) and from my take mother nature will change the weather differently everyday. I feel we had have a good spring some good rain ( Just hope we don’t dry up from feast to famine ) temps have been good first two weekends in May that was great but we are in mid May and it was bound to hit. In 1996 from May 20-31st it was 92-93 degrees but May 29th it got to 95 so again my take my wife & I feel no to much out of the realm. Thank you for your forecasts good info for us to act upon in our lives.
Fingers, toes, & eyes crossed for that front next week
thank you, Lee and Eric, for that shot across the bow to our less than civil commenters. The comments are a fun and engaging part of your service and I would hate it to go the way of the Texas tribune-no more comment section. I really appreciate everything. All of you do for us.
On a positive note. I don’t have to wait very long for hot water when I take my morning shower!
Very true 🤣
Thank you for trying to keep things civil and the FREE work you do for us.
Today Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 102. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Just wanted to thank you here at SCW for all you do for the Gulf Coast community. I have followed Mr. Berger since his days at the Chronicle and unfortunately, these same sort of negative comments would sometimes come up back then too. Please don’t let the negative comments give you the impression that you aren’t appreciated. You certainly are appreciated.
All my respect for a thankless job,
Scott
The wind makes the heat bearable at least for me.
Closing the comment section would be like punishing the entire class for the sake of one angry kid while positively rewarding that kid at the same time through a negative action (the hoax commenter who started the day before yesterday & just kept going).
It won’t change anything – that person will just move on to another place.
Surely there’s a better way. People connect here, especially during difficult weather. Let’s not lose that.
If all this climate change info is settled science, then can we all just be chill about it in the discourse? We don’t need the constant chiding from both sides here in the comments. I’m sure the vast majority of people come here for the daily weather so we can just get through another day and the constant talk about it gets old for people who just want to know if it’s going to be a good day to work in the garden or if I need to water the lawn this week or if they should bring an umbrella to their kid’s kickball game.
It’s a weather site, that’s what made it soar in the first place, and the comments are typically an amazing cast of characters that brings some brightness to my day and keeps me coming back to the site as many provide their local experience in different parts of the city and surrounding metro area. Unfortunately any site’s comment section will need moderation as the loudest are most often the most abrasive.
Here’s to hoping many more years of weather for the spaceport and some civilized comment sections.