We are firmly entrenched in a July or even August-type weather pattern with strong heat, high humidity. For those of us who wear glasses, this week has been a bit challenging in the morning when walking outside, as it’s like walking into a fog machine. We are going to start to see some changes, however, and they should begin slowly this weekend.

Today

We expect that Friday will be similar to Thursday. Watch for perhaps a couple showers along the sea breeze in the afternoon. Otherwise, today will be just sunny and hot today, with high temperatures back into the mid-90s. For once though, it might actually feel “nicer” in Houston than in much of the Northeast and Midwest the next few days.

So we’ve got that going for us, which is nice.

Saturday & Sunday

While tomorrow and Sunday should be fairly similar to recent days, I do think we will have a very slightly better chance at seeing a few showers in parts of the area on both afternoons along the sea breeze. The slightly higher chance is probably on Sunday. After starting both days in the upper-70s, we will head into the low- or mid-90s during the afternoons. Have an umbrella handy to be safe, but your outdoor plans should be mostly fine I think this weekend.

Monday

A weak disturbance riding along the northern Gulf Coast from east to west will arrive in Houston Monday, likely boosting our odds for a few showers and storms just a little more to start next week. The best way I can characterize rain chances on Monday would be that if the weekend has about 20 percent chance, then Monday is probably about a 30 percent chance. We will warm from upper 70s to lower or middle 90s Monday afternoon again.

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The northern part of the metro area saw some briefly strong showers on Wednesday, with up to 0.5 inch of rain falling near Tomball and The Woodlands. Since then, the atmosphere has continued to dry out, and high pressure strengthened somewhat. This should continue to diminish the coverage and intensity of any rain showers today, leading to a mostly dry period until Sunday or Monday.

Thursday

Skies will be partly to mostly sunny today under the influence of the aforementioned high pressure. We can’t rule out some isolated showers along the sea breeze later today, but chances are probably less than 20 percent, and anything that forms won’t last too long. Highs will generally be in the mid-90s with ample humidity. Low temperatures won’t be a whole lot better, with parts of the region not falling below 80 degrees tonight.

Friday

This should be pretty much a hot and sunny day, with highs in the mid 90s and not much else to say.

Saturday

The first half of the weekend looks to be mostly a repeat of Friday, although a chance of some sea breeze storms may creep back into forecast during the afternoon. Overall, look for highs in the mid-90s with partly to mostly sunny skies.

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Despite a tropical air mass, rain showers have been really hit or miss across the Houston region over the last four days. Some areas, like The Woodlands, have picked up 3 or more inches of rain. Other parts of south and central Harris County have received no rain at all. Pretty much everyone has seen a lot of gray skies, but that will now change as tropical moisture from former Hurricane Barry moves away, and high pressure moves into Houston.

Tuesday

Bit of a tricky forecast for today, as atmospheric moisture levels remain elevated, and high pressure really hasn’t begun to assume control of our weather just yet. However, there are no significant forcings for rainfall today, so we’re probably looking at scattered showers and thunderstorms today—not the kind of slow-moving clumps of storms we saw on Monday in areas like southern Montgomery County. A few areas may pick up a half inch of rain, or so, but most of Houston will probably remain dry. Skies otherwise should be partly sunny, with highs in the low 90s.

Wednesday and Thursday

As high pressure builds over the area, we should start to see mostly sunny days, with rain chances only in the 10 to 20 percent range (mostly during the afternoon, along the sea breeze). These will be prototypical July days for Houston, with lots of sunshine, and highs in the low- to mid-90s. Nighttime temperatures in the upper 70s won’t offer much relief and the humidity will add to the sultry mix.

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