Houston should see some needed rainfall toward the end of this week

After a wet start to 2024, the Houston region has been largely rain-free for more than a month. Oh, there have been a few exceptions, with scattered shower here and there. But the spring greenery across the metro area has largely been coasting along due the rains received this winter. If you look closely at the ground, you might even see some cracking in the soil.

I am not promising anything, but it does look like the Houston area will see two pretty healthy chances at rainfall this week, first during the Thursday and Friday period, and then again later this weekend as a front pushes through. While rainfall during the weekend is less than ideal, it would not be unwelcome to our burgeoning plants.

Monday

Today is my pick for the nicest day of the week. We’re seeing some very light showers along the coast due to a passing disturbance, but these will clear quickly this morning. After that we’re going to see a mostly sunny day with highs in the low 70s. Winds will be light, from the southeast, at 5 to 10 mph. With dewpoints in the 40s, the air will feel pleasantly dry.

Rodeo forecast

There are no concerns about attending the rodeo this evening, with temperatures in the upper 60s heading into the show and mostly clear skies. Winds will be light. After the bulls and the rock ‘n roll, conditions this evening will be mild. Temperatures will be about 60 degrees after the show, dropping into the mid-50s for most of Houston overnight.

Tuesday

This will be our last day with reasonably dry air, as the onshore flow continues. Look for highs in the upper 70s, with partly to mostly cloudy skies. Lows on Tuesday night will be warmer, dropping into the low- to mid-60s.

Wednesday

Our warming trend continues, with another partly to mostly cloudy day, and highs in the low 80s. Overnight temperatures are unlikely to drop much below 70 degrees, if any.

Thursday and Friday

This part of the forecast remains somewhat uncertain, but in the big picture it appears as though a front will move toward Houston and essentially stall. This will lead to a healthy chance of rainfall to end the work week, with mostly cloudy skies. I don’t anticipate any kind of a washout, but each day should have about a 40 to 50 percent chance of seeing showers. Highs will be around 80 degrees.

Saturday and Sunday

The pattern remains unsettled through the weekend. Temperatures are likely to be in the 70s, with healthy rain chances due to the stalled front and a fairly wet atmosphere. I think rain is a little more likely on Sunday than Saturday as a secondary front pushes through, but I don’t have much confidence in that prediction. All told, we’re likely to get something on the order of 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain through the weekend. The second front, after moving off the coast, will probably push lows on Sunday night into the 50s.

Next week

Monday and Tuesday look a bit cooler, with highs in the 60s perhaps. After that we’ll see a general warming trend, at least into the 70s, if not the 80s.