Our sweltering December in perspective, and my official Christmas forecast

I’ll get to the forecast for Christmas week and weekend in a minute, but first I wanted to put some of this month’s temperatures into perspective.

DECEMBER

Houston has had a warm December, but how warm? The answer is not that much warmer than normal.  So far this month has had an average temperature of 58.0 degrees, and that’s going to probably end up a few degrees higher by the end of this week given what’s ahead.

Nevertheless, as the chart below shows, even an average temperature of 60 degrees would remain well beneath the all-time record for December (set way back in 1889), and it’s far from a certainty that this December will even finish within the city of Houston’s top 10 warmest Decembers.

(SpaceCityWeather.com)
Note 2015 data are through Saturday. (SpaceCityWeather.com)

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A little more autumn weather through Saturday

So another winner of a day is on tap for Friday: Lots of sun and highs actually a couple degrees cooler than we saw yesterday. Saturday should be similarly nice, with just a few high clouds perhaps later in the day and highs in the low 60s.

SUNDAY

No real serious weather worries are expected here, but we will start to notice significant changes. Dewpoints should slowly creep up from the 50s into the lower 60s later Sunday. We’ll also add a good bit of cloud cover to the mix with temperatures back up near 70°.

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Splendid weather through Saturday, heavy rain possible early next week

It’s chilly across Houston this morning, with lows ranging from the upper 30s for areas well inland to about 50 degrees on the coast. This cooler pattern, with highs only rising into the low 60s and splendid sunny days, will remain in place through Saturday.

SUNDAY

Onshore flow resumes from the Gulf of Mexico, increasing clouds, raising high temperatures to about 70 degrees and bringing back a slight chance of rain.

MONDAY-TUESDAY

In addition to warmer temperatures and more humid conditions, an upper-level disturbance on Monday will bring a good chance of rain to the area, perhaps quite a bit of rain, on Monday and Tuesday.

Forecast from NOAA for rain next Monday and Tuesday. Amounts remain highly uncertain. (Weather Bell)
Forecast from NOAA for rain next Monday and Tuesday. Amounts remain highly uncertain. (Weather Bell)

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Storms clearing, cooler weather moving in

Good morning. A line of storms has moved through the region during the overnight hours, bringing generally about one-half inch of rain to most places. It is now ending from west to east.

Status of showers at 6:50 a.m. CT. (Intellicast)
Status of showers at 6:50 a.m. CT. (Intellicast)

 

Northerly winds are behind the front, which will bring cooler air and gradually decreasing clouds through the day. Highs should be in the upper 60s.

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