After a warm-up today and especially on Tuesday, Houston will return to cold weather this week with highs mostly in the 50s. We should also see a fair amount of sunny skies—barring a gray and warm Tuesday. The forecast for the weekend is not year clear, alas.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Chilly conditions this morning, generally in the 30s, will warm up fairly quickly as the sun comes out. It should be a pleasant day to watch a parade, or otherwise partake in outdoor activities, as temperatures rise into the low to mid-60s under partly sunny skies. Winds will shift to the southeast later today, which will bring some more clouds into the mix this afternoon. Lows Monday night will only fall into the 50s with the modified air.

Tuesday

This will be a warm, and possibly wet day as a southerly flow establishes itself over the Houston area. Skies should be mostly cloudy in response to the increased moisture, but even so high temperatures should get up to 70 degrees. Rain chances will increase Tuesday afternoon, and especially Tuesday night ahead of a cold front. I don’t anticipate this front will produce the intense showers and (especially) thunderstorms that we experienced early Saturday, but most of Houston should still see about one-half inch of rain.

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Over the next 7-10 days, the weather over Southeast Texas will probably agitate those of us that like stability in our seasons. We should see a bit of a roller coaster ride unfold over the area. Let’s jump into details.

Today

Watch out for some changeable visibility this morning. There will be some dense fog near the coast and patchier fog inland through the first part of the morning. We’ll shift to mostly cloudy skies this afternoon, though fog could continue near the bays and coast. There should be a few showers around this afternoon, along with perhaps a rumble of thunder. Look for temps to push toward 70 degrees.

Tonight and Saturday

Our much discussed cold front will make its grand appearance for most us while we’re sleeping. The evening should feature low clouds, humidity, and some drizzle or showers. No serious disruption to Friday night plans here. The main front should sweep through the area from northwest to southeast from about 1 AM through 7 AM. With it, some showers, perhaps a few thunderstorms, and then a big change.

We’ll start the day in the 60s around 5 AM and head toward midday with temperatures in the 40s. We should hold in the 40s for most of the afternoon. With it should be a 15 to 20 mph wind, gustier near the bays and on the coast. It will feel like winter.

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As expected, lows this morning have only fallen to around 60 degrees, amid foggy, misty conditions. Skies will clear out before more rain returns later Friday ahead of a strong cold front—although the front is now looking not quite so strong as anticipated, and most of the region seems unlikely to see a freeze. It will still be plenty windy.

Thursday

After a gray, drizzly day on Wednesday, the exit of low pressure should allow some clearing of our skies later today, and this afternoon could be pretty nice. With partly to mostly sunny skies later today, look for a high in the low 70s. Lows tonight should be in the upper 50s for most of Houston as clouds build back into the area.

Friday

This should be a mostly cloudy day, as southerly winds help to build up humidity and moisture in the air. Any daytime rain showers will likely be isolated or scattered, as highs climb into the low 70s. Significantly better rain chances—probably 80 to 90 percent—will move in Friday night, with a line of storms likely crossing the area between midnight Friday and sunrise on Saturday. Expect accumulations of 0.25 to 1.0 inch of rain for most of the area, as some of these storms will be briefly capable of producing heavy rainfall.

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