Monday saw record, and near-record heat across the Houston area. Hobby Airport set a record with a high temperature of 92 degrees, and College Station tied a record by reaching the same temperatures. We need to get through a couple more days of anomalous October heat before finally seeing some relief.
High pressure remains in place over Texas, and so conditions on Tuesday will be a lot like those on Monday—which is to say hot, mostly sunny, humid and rain-free.
This post summarizes the historically wet period from the spring of 2015 through the summer of 2016 for the greater Houston area. Not only did the region set a record for total rainfall, it also experienced an astounding six significant rainfall events in just a little more than 12 months. Read on for a full analysis.
Based upon data from the National Weather Service, the 18-month period from March 1, 2015, through August 31, 2016, ranks as the wettest 18-month period on record for the city of Houston. In fact, the table below shows that each of the top-five wettest 18 month periods in Houston came during the last two years. Prior to 2015, Houston’s wettest consecutive 18 months had yielded a total of 106.68 inches. The March 1, 2015, through August 31, 2016 period annihilated that record by more than a foot of rain, with a total of 119.77 inches.
Here’s the data:
Three more days of heat. That’s how much of this late-summer like weather remains for Houston before some relief arrives to rescue us with some more fall-like weather. And after Sunday’s 91-degree high temperature I am certainly ready.
High pressure should dominate our weather for the next two days, and this will allow temperatures to rise to about 90 degrees, or even into the low 90s for inland areas, along with mostly sunny skies. (Today’s record high of 93 degrees for Houston, set back in 1895, is not out of reach). Rain chances are near zero.
A cold front is stalling across north Texas this morning, but it may provide enough instability today to lead to the development of some scattered showers across the Houston region. This will offer our best chance of rain for awhile. Cooler weather really does lie ahead.
The stalling front, combined with Gulf moisture, could produce some scattered showers and thunderstorms in Houston today, especially after noon for inland areas. Some parts of Houston may pick up a quick half inch of rain or so, but other areas aren’t likely to see any rain. Highs in the upper 80s.
And so we come to summer’s last breath. As higher pressure settles over Houston we can expect temperatures to rise toward 90 degrees, and possibly even reach that mark. Lows should fall into the low 70s. Higher pressure also means mostly sunny days with rain chances near zero.
