Rain returns this weekend, and Christmas still looks chilly

Temperatures have fallen to freezing levels for some areas north and west of Houston this morning, although most of the city and coastal areas have remained a few degrees above this threshold. It is nonetheless a cold winter morning out there, so don’t forget to bundle up yourself and your loved ones this morning.

Wednesday and Thursday

Sunny skies this morning will help warm things up across the region, with high temperatures today reaching the mid-60s. Lows tonight will probably be 5 to 10 degrees warmer than Tuesday night, so we shouldn’t see any freezes. Another pleasant, partly sunny day is on tap for Thursday with highs in the mid-60s. However, before the weather can warm up too much, another cool front will move into the region on Thursday. There is a slight chance of some rain on Thursday night and into Friday morning along the coast, but as of now I expect the region to remain mostly dry.

Friday

In the wake of Thursday’s front, Friday morning will start out cold, but not freezing for Houston. Temperatures probably will warm only into the 50s under partly sunny skies, and with a cool northerly breeze. Chilly.

(Space City Weather is brought to you this month by the Law Office of Murray Newman)

Saturday and Sunday

Unfortunately, the forecast for the weekend has turned a little bit messier. I had hoped for a sunny Saturday, but now clouds seem more likely, with the possibility of some afternoon showers. A moderately strong storm system will be moving through parts of the southern United States this weekend, but its still not clear how much of these impacts will reach into the Houston area. For now, I’d say there’s a solid, 50 percent chance of rain and showers from about noon on Saturday through noon on Sunday. Accumulations should be under 1 inch for almost everyone.

Saturday will be chilly, with clouds likely keeping high temperatures under 60 degrees, while Sunday will be modestly warmer, with highs in the 60s.

Next week and Christmas outlook

Sunshine returns on Monday, and we should see some pleasant days in the 60s. Forecast models keep highs most days next week in the 60s, with perhaps a day or two in the lower 70s toward the end of the week.

By the holiday weekend, and heading into Christmas, the most likely pattern still seems to be a burst a cold, Arctic air blowing into the central and eastern United States, including Houston region. It’s still too early to have much confidence in the specific weather for Christmas Day, but right now the most likely outcome is highs in the 50s, and lows in the 40s. So—cold. Probably.