In brief: After more than four months, Houston’s overnight temperature has once again reached 65 degrees, which we consider the threshold for a fall-like night in the city. Accordingly, we’re celebrating Fall Day today! Houston’s temperatures will warm up quickly, but our air will remain dry through the weekend. Rain chances are near zero for at least the next five days.
Yes, it’s Fall Day
The first half of this summer was moderate, temperature-wise. But some of this ‘cooler’ weather was driven by Hurricane Beryl, which uprooted many trees and led to a prolonged, widespread power outages. Then, for much of August (remember that stretch of seven straight 100-degree days?) and September, Houston has experienced warmer than normal conditions. So yes, we’re due for a break.

That came this week, in the form of our region’s second front. Low temperatures at Bush Intercontinental Airport fell to 64 degrees this morning, the first time since May 18 that the city has recorded a low of 65 degrees or below. We therefore decree today to be Fall Day in Houston, and I hope you take a moment to celebrate it outside. No, the weather isn’t going to be particularly cool. But the air will feel much drier than is typical during summer in Houston.
Friday
For a few hours this afternoon it won’t feel much like fall, as much of Houston is likely to climb into the upper 80s or even reach 90 degrees. But with dewpoints dropping into the lower 50s, the air will feel fine. Winds will be from the north-northwest at 5 to 10 mph, and skies will be clear. Low temperatures tonight will likely be a degree or two warmer than Thursday night, dropping into the upper 60s for most locations in Houston, with slightly cooler weather outside the city.
Saturday and Sunday
Expect sunny skies and warm days, with high temperatures in the low- to mid-90s. However, moderately drier air will take some of the sting out of the heat, and with lower humidity mornings and evenings will be pleasant. Expect low temperatures to drop to around 70 degrees. Rain chances are approximately zero percent.
Next week
Sunshine and warmth prevails through the first half of the week, with daytime highs generally in the mid-90s. This is pretty warm for late September and early October, but it’s being fueled partly by slightly drier air than normal. So while it will be hot, I wouldn’t characterize conditions as sweltering. Nighttime lows drop into the low 70s.
During the second half of the week we probably will see the onset of some more clouds, and some modest rain chances return to the forecast. At some point, perhaps over the weekend, another front will make a run at pushing all the way to the coast. I don’t have enough confidence in the forecast to predict when, but at some point within 7 to 10 days from now I’d expect cooler weather to return. We’ll see.

Tropics
After making landfall on Thursday night in northern Florida, Helene has pushed well inland and is now ravaging the southeastern United States with heavy rain and gusty winds. It’s creating an awful mess. As we look deeper into the tropics, the National Hurricane Center is calling attention to an area of low pressure in the southern Caribbean Sea that could eventually develop into a tropical storm. This is something we will, of course, be watching. However, there is no real indication at this point that an organized system is ultimately going to track toward the Texas coast.