The greater Houston region is still looking at a wet period on Wednesday and Thursday before clear and colder weather arrives in time for the new year. The first three or four days of 2021 should yield sunny, winter-like weather.
Tuesday
Temperatures have fallen to around 60 degrees for much of the area this morning, and winds are noticeable, out of the east at about 15 mph. They will gust above 20 mph later today as the onshore flow continues, pumping up moisture levels in the atmosphere. This should, in turn, increase cloud cover and limit high temperatures to around 70. Rain chances are probably about 10 percent. Low temperatures will drop into the low 60s, for most.
Wednesday and Thursday
These two days will see inclement weather as an upper-level low pressure system approaches the area, and slowly drives a cold front into the region. This front will make it into the western periphery of the area—probably within a few dozen miles of Katy—late on Wednesday. It will then more or less stall for half a day before shoving through the region later on Thursday. The proximity of this front, and the ample moisture in our atmosphere, will drive healthy rain chances from Wednesday afternoon through the middle of Thursday.
Much of the area is likely to see 2 to 3 inches of rain, with localized amounts of 5 inches possible. The best chances for heavy rainfall will come west and north of the metro area. Wednesday and Wednesday night will be warm, with temperatures falling quickly on Thursday when the front finally passes. (It looks like precipitation will exit before the atmosphere gets cold enough to produce anything more than rain.) We should see clearing skies on Thursday afternoon or evening, with temperatures falling into the 40s on New Year’s Eve, heading into New Year’s Day.
New Year’s Day
Expect a sunny day, with highs in the upper 50s.
Saturday and Sunday
The weekend should bring more fine weather into the area, with highs in the 50s to low 60s, lows in the 40s, and lots of sunshine.
Next week
Most of next week should bring highs in the 70s with lows in the 50s. For now we don’t see anything too exciting in terms of cold weather or precipitation.
