Houston will be a windy city today, and likely smash records for the daily high temperature

The story of the day for our region will be winds, as the Texas coast is caught between a fairly strong high pressure system anchored over Cuba and Southern Florida, and a developing low pressure system over the Western United States. Gusts this morning could reach up to 40 mph as winds blow out of the southwest. This warm flow will yield daytime temperatures in the mid- to upper-80s across the area, which almost certainly will break the day’s record high of 81 degrees, set in 2017.

This forecast map of pressure and winds about 3 to 4 miles up in the atmosphere provides a sense of overall state of play today, with Texas caught between two pressure systems. (Weather Bell)

Wednesday

As noted above, winds will peak this morning, out of the southwest, with gusts up to 40 mph. Partially clearing skies this afternoon should provide a boost to temperatures, with much of the area reaching the mid-80s, and some areas warmer than that. There is a slight chance of rain today, primarily for areas north of Interstate 10. Any showers would be fleeting, however. Lows tonight will drop into the upper 60s.

Thursday

As winds die down early on Thursday, some areas of dense fog are possible. Otherwise, expect partly to mostly cloudy skies, which should help to limit high temperatures to the low 80s. Thursday night will be another warm one. A front will be approaching our region from the northwest on Thursday, but at this point I think it will stop short of substantially impacting the Houston metro area.

Friday

Stop me if I sound like a broken record, but we can again expect highs in the low 80s with mostly cloudy skies. And another warm night. Rain chances remain near zero through the end of the work week.

A modest change will finally come on Monday, in some form or another. (Weather Bell)

Saturday and Sunday

The weekend should bring more of the same, with muggy air, and partly to mostly cloudy skies and highs in the low 80s. Rain chances won’t be zero, but they’re probably on the order of 10 percent each day, with any accumulations being slight.

Next week

Some sort of weak front should move into our region next week as high pressure finally eases off. While this is likely to bring a modicum of cooler air, the bigger change should hopefully come in the form of a drier air mass. We may have to wait until next weekend before a chance of lows falling into the 40s returns to Houston. Rain chances, overall, continue to appear low for the foreseeable future.

12 thoughts on “Houston will be a windy city today, and likely smash records for the daily high temperature”

  1. If it’s in the mid 80s in February, I just Can’t wait for what July, August, September, and any more, October have in store for us.

  2. At my house in Sienna Plantation area, the highest winds since midnight have been 8 mph with gusts up to 15 mph. Averages since midnight are 2.5 mph with gusts to 3.8 mph. Right now (0845) the wind is about 2 mph, but picking up some. TV guys are saying 30+ mph winds “right now” in Sugar Land and Pearland……..

  3. I saw something more troubling than wind… a bunch of pollen all over my car. It’s not even March yet. And with a lack of rain in the forecast to wash it our, I think it’s going to be a sneezy week

  4. Super overcast this morning, but with rain chances low, what’s contributing to the heavy cloud cover? Does that lessen likelihood of hitting the targeted high?

  5. Dark as night all morning at my house, and raining quite a bit. This drought is really soaking us with a lot of rain, hope that the drought ends soon.

  6. Raining @ my house along TC Jester & I-10 for better part of 30 mins now… “fleeting” is a relative term I reckon. I digress, maybe I’m a still a little curmudgeon over the “SWW” post on 2/10. I’ll get over it… maybe… eventually.

  7. Look at the radar now – there is a solid line of showers across the whole area coming from the NW like a cold front is coming through – was this unexpected? Forecast says “There is a slight chance of rain today, primarily for areas north of Interstate 10. Any showers would be fleeting, however.” We are soaked right now.

    Just curious what changed, not criticizing. Usually forecasts for the same day are pretty spot on.

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