Houston’s brief flirtation with cooler, spring-like weather over the weekend has ended with the resumption of an onshore flow over the region. This will set the stage for a warm, and mostly dry week that will bring the warmest weather of 2020 so far into the region, with conditions positively summer-like by the middle of this week. It’s not out of the question that Houston hits the 90s.
Monday
Under the influence of very moist, southerly air, we should see mostly cloudy skies on Monday with a high in the low 80s. Sunshine may break through near the coast and in Houston later today. Some isolated showers are definitely possible, but for the most part the region should remain rain-free, with light winds. Lows Monday night will probably only fall to around 70 degrees for most of the area.
Tuesday
After another warm start to the day, highs on Tuesday should climb into the mid-80s under partly to mostly sunny skies. Winds will be more noticeable, gusting up to 25 mph out of the southwest in response to an approaching front that will stall out near or north of Houston. Lows Tuesday night should drop into the mid-60s.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Temperatures and humidity levels should really pop during the middle of the week, with high pressure settling over the area. The combination of a warm southerly flow and partly to mostly clear skies should push daytime temperatures into the upper 80s to 90 degrees. (Houston’s last official 90-degree day came on October 20, a little more than five months ago.) Nighttime lows will generally fall into the upper 60s or lower 70s.
Saturday and Sunday
At some point this weekend—probably Saturday during the daytime, but overall confidence in timing is not high—a cold front will push into the region. This will bring an end to the summer-like weather and return us to more typical weather for late March and early April. After the front, temperatures should fall back into daily highs in the 70s, with lows generally in the 50s or low 60s. In terms of precipitation, it’s too early to say what may come with the front, but overall the next seven days appear quite dry.
Reliant’s message as heat returns
Whether working from home or keeping busy children occupied while school is suspended, many Houstonians are wondering how this change in routine might affect their monthly energy bills.
As spring begins to heat up and people spend more time at home, it is normal and expected for electricity usage to increase. However, there are still actions we can all take to manage energy usage and costs. There’s no need to stress about increased screen time since most entertainment devices like TVs, computers and video games only cost pennies a day to operate, but there are things we can do to help save.
Top 5 Energy Tips for Staying and Working from Home:
- Manage the temp. Set your AC fan to the “auto” rather than the “on” setting, which can help decrease energy costs and make it easier for your AC to maintain your desired temperature. You can also rotate your ceiling fan counter-clockwise to create a wind chill effect for a more comfortable living environment. Keep in mind when your thermostat is set below 78° F, each degree cooler can increase your costs by up to 7%.
- Load up the dishes. With restaurant service suspended in many areas, you may be cooking more at home. Dishwashers require a lot of energy to wash and dry, so run only a full load of dishes on the automatic energy-savings cool-dry cycle. If your dishwasher doesn’t have this feature, turn it off after the final rinse and let the dishes air dry.
- Do laundry at night or early morning. Avoid using large appliances like the clothes washer or dryer during the hottest part of day. These appliances can cause your AC to work harder to keep your home cool. Run fewer, large loads back-to-back to take advantage of the heat buildup.
- Pull out the grill. Enjoy this time with your family by having a cook out and using your outdoor grill instead of the oven. When cooking inside, use microwaves and slow cookers instead of electric stoves or ovens. Use glass or ceramic pans, which retain heat better.
- Enjoy the outdoors. Get caught up on your gardening and landscape with shade treesto reduce heat from the outside. Trim plants and remove any obstructions near your AC equipment to help it run more efficiently. Also, if you have a pool, ensure the pool pump does not run 24/7 by installing an automatic timer.
Eric, You mention that October 20, some 125 days ago, was our last 90 degree day. How does that 125 day period compare with past years? Thanks much.
When I tell out of towners we can easily hit 90 seven months out of the year, they sometimes think I’m joking.