In brief: In today’s post we discuss the very hot week ahead for Houston, but explain why this weekend should offer some slight relief. Could we actually see a little rain as well? Maybe. And we take a peek into the tropics, where the Atlantic is slowly waking up.
It’s been a hot one
High temperatures in Houston over the last four days have been sizzling: 100, 101, 103, and 101 degrees. We are going to continue to flirt with highs of 100 degrees, or just above, for most of this week as high pressure reigns supreme. Longtime residents of Houston will know that the period of late August often brings the most torrid weather to our region, and this year is delivering in spades.
However, we do have some hope on the horizon. No, I’m not talking about a bona fide cold front. It’s just too early to have any real hopes for that—check back in a couple of weeks on that score. However there is increasing evidence that high pressure will break down somewhat by Friday or so of this week, allowing for more seasonal high temperatures in the mid-90s and a decent chance of rain.
But it’s going to be scorching until then.
Monday
Today will bring more or less similar conditions to what we saw over the weekend, which means baking heat over the region pushing highs to 100 degrees or a little higher. (Coastal areas will remain cooler during the daytime, in the mid- to upper-90s). Skies will be sunny, with humid air. Nights will briefly fall into the upper 70s. Winds will be fairly calm in the morning, with gusts up to 20 mph from the south-southwest during the afternoon and early evening.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Conditions are more or less the same, but we might shave 1 or 2 degrees off of daily highs such that, by Thursday, most of Houston is in the upper 90s. Sunny skies and plenty of humidity remains.
Friday
Expect highs in the mid- to upper-90s on Friday with partly to mostly sunny skies. As high pressure breaks down we should see some (fairly weak) disturbances start to rotate through. This could bring a modest chance of rain into the region, something like 20 or 30 percent. It’s not much, but we’ve been so bone dry of late anything would be welcome.
Saturday and Sunday
The weekend will bring fairly typical weather for late August, with highs generally in the mid-90s and a chance of afternoon showers along the sea breeze. If you’re planning on outdoor activities you can expect plenty of sunshine, but there will be the possibility of some brief, passing showers.
Next week
Summer is not over, of course, when we reach September. For most of next week, at this point, I expect highs in the mid- to upper-90s with some slight rain chances. So still very warm outside.
Atlantic tropics
Over at the Eyewall, Matt has a good summary of the Atlantic tropics. The area of most note is a wave emerging off of Africa today, which has a decent shot of development over the next week. Overall this is something we’re definitely going to watch given the time of year, but it’s not something we’re at all concerned about at this point.
