Hotter for a few days before cooling a bit by Labor Day Weekend

An upper-level low pressure system is producing heavy rains down the Texas coast, from Corpus Christi to Brownsville, this morning. But Houston is beginning to feel the effects of high pressure, and will continue to do so for the next couple of days. We’ll eventually be cooler, too.

Today and Thursday

The net effect of the high pressure for Houston will be a return to warmer weather for a couple of days. We can’t rule out a few isolated, briefly heavy showers during the afternoon hours, but for the most part we’re going to see partly to mostly sunny skies, and a likely return of temperatures into the mid-90s. It’s what August is supposed to feel like!

Friday and Saturday

By Friday a weak front will backdoor into the region from the northeast. It’s not going to bring brisk winds or much cooler air, alas.

European model depiction of surface winds on Friday morning. (Windyty)
European model depiction of surface winds on Friday morning. (Windyty)

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Why hurricanes are strongest on the right side

With talk of invests, depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes (oh my!), readers have asked about some of the science and processes involved with hurricanes. One question we received this week asked us to look at a hurricane’s structure, and where the worst weather occurs.

Infrared satellite imagery of Hurricane Ike before landfall, September 2008 (courtesy NOAA)
Infrared satellite imagery of Hurricane Ike before landfall, September 2008 (courtesy NOAA)

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August’s “great divide,” and a look at Labor Day weekend

It’s been more than two weeks now, but can you remember back to the first part of this month? Very warm nights. Five straight days of 100-degree temperatures. Through the first 13 days of the month, an average high of 99 degrees. Then the big pattern change came, one in which tropical moisture won out over high pressure in August.

This happened:

A tale of two months. (National Weather Service)
A tale of two months. (National Weather Service)

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Houston’s wet, cool August continues—and Labor Day weekend looks nice

Most of Houston saw cloudy skies, but not too much rain this weekend. But the same cannot be said for some coastal areas, particularly in Matagorda and Brazoria counties. As much as 10 inches fell in the Freeport area, and coastal regions in Matagorda, Brazoria, Galveston and Chambers counties remain under a flash flood watch through at least noon today.

Very heavy rains fell south of Houston, on the coast, on Sunday. (NOAA)
Very heavy rains fell south of Houston, on the coast, on Sunday. (NOAA)

 

Monday

These coastal areas could pick up another couple of inches today as a slow-moving area of low pressure drifts slowly down the Texas coast. While it is not particularly a threat to develop into a tropical system it will remain a rainmaker all the same.

Truth be told, heavy rain is possible for most of the Houston metro area today, as daytime temperatures warm up. Some parts of town could pick up 1-3 inches whereas other areas see threatening skies, but little to no rain. Highs should remain in the upper 80s.

Tuesday

Conditions should dry out some on Tuesday, with less heavy rain, but we’re still likely to see partly cloudy skies, intermittent rain and highs only of about 90 degrees. Don’t look now, but it’s almost the end of August, and fall isn’t too far around the corner.

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