Scattered rain possible this week before a front dries out the weekend

Good morning. Houston’s relatively mild weather for May will continue for awhile thanks to a front this week, and frankly we should savor these days as summer looms just around the corner.

Today

A few stray showers passed across Houston on Tuesday, and we’ll probably see similar conditions today—which is to say mostly cloudy skies with a slight chance of brief showers. Clouds should help limit high temperatures to the mid-80s, which is near normal for this time of year. Overnight temperatures remain warm and humid.

Thursday and Friday

Rain chances will increase marginally on toward the end of the work week as an upper-level low pressure system moves across the United States, and pushes a late season cold front through Texas. This will perturb our moist atmosphere enough such that we could squeeze out some rain showers ahead of the front on Thursday, and with its passage on Friday by or before noon. Amounts won’t be significant, with totals likely around one to two tenths of an inch for areas that do get rain. Highs on Thursday and Friday will likely reach the mid- to upper-80s.

Expect only moderate rainfall, if any, with a front this week. (NOAA/Weather Bell)

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Mild spring weather to continue for Houston

This morning will feel several degrees warmer across Houston, with temperatures in the mid- to upper-60s across the region, and this is pretty typical weather for early- to mid-May. We’ll now warm up some.

Tuesday and Wednesday

Atmospheric moisture levels are starting to recover, and as a result we’re going to see rising humidity levels during the next couple of days, but high temperatures should remain moderate in the mid-80s. While there is enough moisture to squeeze out some showers, I think they’ll probably remain isolated today and Wednesday, with the best chances south and west of the Houston metro area.

Thursday and Friday

By Thursday morning enough moisture will have moved inland that we could see some scattered showers, likely during the morning hours. But this rain will be nothing to write home about—I’m not expecting significant accumulations. Otherwise, Thursday should be a partly to mostly sunny day with highs in the mid-80s.

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After a spectacular May weekend, Houston may just have another

Following a rare, exceptional May weekend Houston will warm up some in the days ahead, and the humidity will return—but we just might be in luck with some more great weather next weekend thanks to another front.

Today

It’s a pleasant morning across Houston, with lows ranging from about 60 degrees up north to the mid-60s closer to the coast. Unfortunately, the upper air pattern that helped keep drier air over the Houston region has unfortunately moved off to the east, and this has opened up a more southerly flow of moist air off the Gulf. This will bring clouds and humidity back to the area, beginning today. Expect highs today in the mid-80s (even possibly upper 80s in some areas), with lows tonight only reaching the upper 60s. This is more typical weather for May than what we had this past weekend.

Any rain through mid-week in Houston is most likely to the southwest of the city. (Weather Bell)

Tuesday and Wednesday

Highs will continue in the mid- to upper-80s, with nighttime temperatures only falling to around 70 degrees. As moisture levels rise we’re also going to see a chance of rain return to the forecast, but only just barely. Right now it looks like the best chance for some isolated rain showers will come to the southwest of Houston, down the coast, where the atmosphere will be more moist.

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Recent brilliant weather has side benefits too

Let’s face it. We’ve gotten off very, very easy this spring in most of Southeast Texas. It’s been pleasant very often lately, despite a couple days of heat and humidity mixed in. So as we continue on another nice, lengthy stretch of fair weather, let’s quickly review where we are right now.

A Texas Spring Fling

Rainfall amounts haven’t been at all like the last two springs. It also hasn’t been terribly dry either. In fact, precipitation over the last 60 days is averaging just a little above normal in most of the Houston area.

Percent of normal precipitation for the 60 day period ending yesterday shows most of the region in pretty good shape. (NWS/NOAA)

 

It’s a bit drier than normal in patches around the area also, but we’re by no means in drought. Even despite recent dryness near and west of San Antonio, those areas aren’t really in drought either.

And on top of this, temperatures have been sublime at times. Yes, we’ve already hit 90° twice, but let’s be frank: We’ve had multiple days like yesterday and today, and they’ve been amazing. The last two weeks have been especially lovely.

Average temperatures the last couple weeks have not been too far off normal, despite a couple days in the 90s. (High Plains Regional Climate Center)

 

So for most of late April and now early May, rather than drifting into our miserable, stable summer of high humidity and plenty of heat, we’ve only had tastes of it.

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