Full on summer returns to Houston—for one day

If you’ve been missing summer, you’re in luck. It returns for a one-day engagement Thursday with highs of around 90 degrees. My guess is that we’ve only got two or three days with 90-degree temperatures left in 2019, so if you really like the heat please get outside and enjoy it today. Cooler weather arrives Friday.

Thursday

Today will be quite warm, with highs of 90 degrees in the city of Houston, and possibly mid-90s just to the west, in places like Katy. Mostly sunny skies will amplify the heat, and we’ll get no respite from the humidity as the sun goes down tonight. (Just as the Tampa Bay Rays will not get any respite from the Astros’ bats tonight).

Friday

But that all changes on Friday. A potent fall cold front has been sweeping down the central United States, and it will reach the Houston area on Friday morning. Areas such as College Station will likely see the frontal passage before sunrise, and it should move into central Houston by around 10am, and push off the coast around Noon. A broken line of light-to-moderate showers should accompany the frontal passage, but any storms should be short-lived.

NAM model forecast for the position of the cold front at 9am CT Friday. (Weather Bell)

Conditions after the front will be significantly drier, cooler, and gustier. We can’t entirely rule out some light rain after the front’s passage, but for the most part it will be just cloudy. With the lack of sunshine, and winds gusting to 25 mph (or higher, along the coast), you may well want a longer-sleeved shirt or light jacket on Friday afternoon and evening.

See full post

Warming briefly before fine, fall weather this weekend

Houston is enjoying another moderately cool morning, with lows generally in the 60s for most of the region. This brief respite from summer will gradually end today, but a stronger taste of fall arrives on Friday. The weekend looks pretty amazing after a breezy front blows through.

Wednesday

An easterly breeze will shift to come out of the south the morning, and this will herald the return of the onshore flow. Conditions today will still be fairly moderate, temperature-wise, with highs generally climbing into the mid-80s. However we’re not going to see as much cooling this evening with the absence of drier air. Lows for most of Houston probably will only get into the low- to mid-70s.

Thursday’s high temperatures are, umm, sporty. (Pivotal Weather)

Thursday

Welcome back, summer! This will be a mostly sunny day, with high temperatures of around 90 degrees. Thursday night will be muggy, too, with lows on the mid- to upper-70s.

Friday

This day will have the week’s most dynamic weather. This will be a classic cold front passage, with a boundary barreling through the Houston region, likely during the morning hours. We can expect at least scattered, if not widespread, showers with the front, and perhaps a few thunderstorms. But they should pass pretty quickly as the front sweeps toward the coast by around noon or shortly thereafter.

See full post

Tuesday offers a taste of cooler weather for the weekend

Good morning. It seemed to take forever, but a genuine cold front did drag into Houston on Monday. As the sun dropped, so did temperatures, with overnight lows ranging from about 60 degrees in northern areas such as Huntsville to around 70 degrees along the coast. It’s not cold, per se, but it’s cooler than we’ve been and the air is noticeably drier. A stronger front will follow to set us up for a beautiful fall weekend.

Tuesday

Skies should clear out later this morning, leading to a mostly sunny afternoon across the area. Highs will be in the low- to mid-80s, with a continuing light northerly wind. This evening should be splendid, with overnight temperatures Tuesday night perhaps a degree or two cooler than Monday night.

Temperatures on Tuesday morning are cooler, but certainly not cold. (Weather Bell)

Wednesday

By Wednesday morning, we’re going to begin transitioning back toward warmer, somewhat more humid weather as the onshore flow resumes. It won’t be unpleasant, for sure, but high temperatures should climb into the mid- or (more likely) upper-80s under sunny skies. Overnight lows will struggle to fall below 75 for much of the area.

Thursday

Briefly, we’re going to return to the summer-like weather we experienced for most of September and the first six days of October. Look for highs of around 90 degrees with another warm and humid night, under mostly sunny skies.

See full post

Happy Fall Day, Houston—you’ve earned it

After a dreadful September that entailed a devastating tropical storm, 100-degree heat, and unending humidity, the season’s first fall front dragged into Houston on Monday. It’s not super strong, but after nearly five months of summer-like weather it will be strong enough. And with the promise of more cool fronts on the way, we are well and truly entering fall.

Monday

The first six days of October have produced an average temperature of 82.6 degrees, which is 7.7 degrees warmer than normal. Today’s high temperature may not even reach 82.6 degrees as a mix of drier and cooler air move into Houston. As the front blows in, winds could gust up as high as 20mph this afternoon.

Tonight should be especially sublime as drier air at sunset will push low temperatures into the 60s this evening—a wonderful time for a walk or whatever outdoors. Low temperatures by Tuesday morning should drop into the upper-50s for inland areas, and low 60s for most of the rest of Houston. It’s all nice enough that we’re declaring today to be our annual Fall Day holiday.

Low temperatures for Monday night into Tuesday morning. (Pivotal Weather)

Tuesday

This should be a great early fall day, with sunny skies, highs in the low- to mid-80s, and overnight lows a couple a degrees warmer than Monday night.

Wednesday and Thursday

Warmer conditions return to Houston as the onshore flow resumes. Highs will creep back into the upper 80s, and unfortunately nighttime temperatures are going back into the 70s. Skies should be mostly sunny.

See full post