The city of Alvin, located south of Houston in Brazoria County, has held the 24-hour rainfall record for the United States since 1979. Tropical Storm Claudette caused significant flooding in July of that year, especially over Alvin, where it dropped a record 42 inches of rainfall in a 24-hour period. However, it appears that recent torrential rainfall that affected the northern half of the Hawaiian island of Kauai was worse. According to preliminary data from a rain gauge near Hanalei, the island received 49.69 inches of rain during a 24-hour period that ended on April 15. (On a personal note, Hanalei is one of my favorite spots in the world. When my wife and I honeymooned there 15 years ago, the place was so beautiful we would later name our first born daughter Analei).

A National climate committee will now examine this data, in context with other sources, to determine the validity of this extreme rainfall record. I suspect it will stand.

Now, let’s discuss Houston’s weather. Where the outlook remains very pleasant for the next several days.

Thursday and Friday

A cold front moved through Houston on Wednesday night, and although the rain showers associated with it petered out before reaching most of the region, the front is as strong as advertised. Skies should clear this morning, and that will lead to two exceptional days to end the work week, with highs near 80 degrees, lows in the 50s for inland areas, and 60s closer to the coast.

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The Houston region will be a bit warmer today, but then will have about five superb days of spring-like weather before May begins. At that point, I expect we’ll begin to see the end of this glorious run of spring.

Wednesday

We’re going to see some warmer weather today, with mostly sunny skies and light southerly winds allowing for highs to nudge up into the mid-80s across the region. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some areas south of Houston push into the upper 80s. In any case, it will be warm—a harbinger of how early May is likely to feel.

This won’t last, however, as a cold front is on the way. It should push through Houston sometime tonight, probably a few hours before midnight. The most likely scenario is that we’ll see a broken line of showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms with the front’s passage tonight. However at this point I still don’t expect everyone to see rain, and areas that do probably won’t see more than a tenth or two of an inch.

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On Monday, I noted on Twitter that this is the nicest April in Houston I think I’ve ever experienced. Later, no less an authority than JJ Watt concurred.

Weather in Houston has been phenomenal lately

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) April 24, 2018

He’s correct. This month the region has generally see a cold front every three to five days, which has kept humidity down, and temperatures slightly below normal—about two to four degrees for most of the area. We’ve also had enough rain to keep things green around the region, but not so much that precipitation has lingered for days at a time.

Alas, all good things must come to an end. The outlook for this week remains spectacular, however it is possible that next week (it is not clear yet whether a strong front will push all the way through Houston) will begin a warming trend that heralds the oncoming of summer. Either way, enjoy the rest of this glorious April.

Tuesday and Wednesday

We’ll see a bit warmer conditions today, as a light onshore flow begins to return to the area. Highs on Tuesday and Wednesday will climb into the low 80s (possibly mid-80s on Wednesday), but skies should remain mostly sunny. By Wednesday night, a cool front will move through the area. This front will probably bring some scattered showers and thunderstorms into Houston after midnight, but nothing too extreme and I don’t think anyone will see more than a few tenths of an inch of rain. The front and storms should move offshore by sunrise on Thursday.

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After an absolutely superb Sunday, Houston’s weather will remain more or less gorgeous for most of this week—giving us another healthy dose of spring with moderately warm days, and cooler nights, and ample sunshine. Below, we also take a look at weather for the IRONMAN and MS 150 events this weekend.

Monday

You probably couldn’t script a much better weather day for Houston than today—with a chilly start and a cool, dry northerly flow throughout the day. Highs will be in the upper 70s with sunny skies. Winds will be light. Temperatures will be cool tonight, falling to around 60 degrees in the city. This will easily be one of the 10 best weather days of 2018. Easily.

Tuesday and Wednesday

These days will be warmer, but not unpleasantly so, with high temperatures in the low 80s and mostly sunny skies. It appears as though a cool front will push through the region on Wednesday, and Wednesday night, and this could lead to some overnight showers. Not everyone will see rain, and for those that do, rainfall amounts will probably only be measured in a few tenths of an inch of rain. Right now I don’t anticipate a whole lot, if any, thunderstorms—so hopefully you won’t be woken up by any storms.

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