Houston’s weather pendulum swings back

The pendulum of weather this winter has been fierce and rather erratic at times. While not as extreme as what we saw in January, another strong shift of the pendulum is underway, back in the warmer direction.

Today & Weekend

We have an interesting variety of temperatures across the region this morning.

Temperatures are being impacted by low clouds and range from the 30s and 40s north to the 50s and low 60s south and along the Gulf. (NOAA/NWS)

 

We have a band of low clouds oozing up from South Texas this morning, and that’s keeping places south of Houston mild. However, if you go north of the metro area, clear skies and light winds have allowed temperatures to drop into the 40s and a few 30s in ideally sheltered spots.

Low clouds should give way to a bit of sun, before new clouds arrive later today. There is a very slight chance of a shower or some light sprinkles, primarily south and west of Houston this afternoon.

The majority of the weekend should be problem-free. We will see clouds around, interspersed with sunshine. An isolated shower or a little light rain is possible but probably nothing you need to plan around.

Temps are going to surge again however. While it shouldn’t be quite as warm as we saw earlier this week, there is a good chance we see that Saturday and perhaps Sunday reach the 80 degree mark. As Eric pointed out earlier in the week, Houston is going to at least threaten the record of seventeen 80+ days in meteorological winter (December 1-February 28). We are at 14 now, and if Saturday and Sunday both hit 80°, we’ll be at 16 days. That will give us over half of February left to tie or break the record of 17 days. What’s winter?

Official forecast high temperatures for Saturday show record highs being tested all across Texas and Oklahoma. Houston’s record high on Saturday is 82°, set back in 1999. (Weather Bell)

 

No other issues this weekend, but watch for the potential of fog in spots, especially near the coast by Sunday.

(Space City Weather is sponsored this month by Darrell Lee’s The Gravitational Leap)

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After three record highs, Houston finally cools off

What start to the week it has been—three consecutive 80-degree days, and three record highs. Overnight lows, too, have been anomalously warm. Here’s what that looks like in graphical form, with this month’s temperatures plotted against normal levels.

(National Weather Service)

After a cold front the region will see a bit of a reprieve from the heat, but we’ll warm back up this weekend before more seasonable temperatures return next week.

Today

After a cold front moved through on Wednesday, conditions for Thursday will be splendid. Highs should reach into the upper 60s with mostly sunny skies. Lows tonight will fall into the low 50s for most of Houston.

Friday

After a cool start, Friday will warm into the low- to mid-70s as winds begin to swing out of the southeast. This should allow for some clouds to return as well.

Saturday and Sunday

As the onshore flow resumes the region should see a partly sunny weekend, with highs in the upper 70s—some areas will probably hit 80 degrees if it stays sunny enough during the afternoon hours. Beginning on Friday night there will be enough moisture to squeeze out a few scattered showers throughout the weekend, but accumulations should be very slight.

(Space City Weather is sponsored this month by Darrell Lee’s The Gravitational Leap)

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After breaking all kinds of heat records, Houston eyes some relief

Houston set all kind of heat records on Tuesday:

  • Intercontinental Airport reached 86 degrees, breaking the old record of 80 degrees
  • Hobby Airport reached 85 degrees, breaking the record of 82 degrees
  • Galveston reached 80 degrees, breaking the record of 76 degrees
  • It was the earliest 80 degree day for Galveston on record, breaking the previous record by two weeks—Feb. 21 set back in 1993.

There’s more to come today before we cool down a bit for the west of the week.

Today

Some dense fog along the coast will give way this morning to a mostly sunny—and for February, extremely warm—day. The earliest 90-degree day on record in Houston is Feb. 20 (1986), and while I don’t think we’ll reach 90 degrees, I’m not entirely ruling it given what happened Tuesday. Highs should be in the mid-80s regardless before a cool front arrives sometime this afternoon, pushing lows on Thursday morning into the 50s.

The GFS model predicts a front will push into northwest Houston by around noon today. (Weather Bell)

(Space City Weather is sponsored this month by Darrell Lee’s The Gravitational Leap)

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Houston close to having the most 80-degree days during a winter

After Houston reached 81 degrees on Monday (tying a record high set in 1911), the city has now recorded 12 days with high temperatures of 80 degrees, or warmer, this winter. According to the National Weather Service, the record for total number of 80-degree days in “winter,” defined here as December through February, is 17, which has happened three times (1995-96, 1956-57, & 1910-11). We’re likely to pick up at least two more 80-degree days this week, so that will put us at 14. I’d give us even odds of breaking the overall mark.

Tuesday and Wednesday

If you liked “winter” on Monday in Houston, you’re going to love the next two days. A strong southwesterly flow of warm, dry air from Mexico will bring a surge of winter heat into the region.

Expect drier, less humid air today and Wednesday across most of Texas. (Weather Bell)

I’m anticipating high temperatures of around 85 degrees on both days, with partly to mostly sunny skies. Lows will fall to around 60 degrees. As drier air mixes down, fire conditions will increase so take care of sparks.

(Space City Weather is sponsored this month by Darrell Lee’s The Gravitational Leap)

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