In brief: Sorry to interrupt your weekend, but we wanted to update your expectations for rainfall later today and tonight. There are some indications that these showers may overperform a little bit, and that isolated locations in Houston may see 3 or more inches of rainfall.
Saturday Night Showers
Houston’s radar is quiet this morning, but beginning a little before noon we expect to see some showers and possibly thunderstorms fill in. Around noon, a few hours ahead of a frontal passage, we could see some showers develop along and south of Interstate 10 with plenty of moisture available in the atmosphere. These storms could be somewhat stationary, allowing for accumulations to build up over time.
Beginning later this afternoon a front will move down from the northwest, bringing more widespread showers and thunderstorms, and these are likely to persist, on and off, into the early hours of Sunday morning. At this time I don’t expect anything too severe, but thunderstorms (i.e. lightning) and moderate to heavy rainfall are possible.
Rainfall amounts will vary widely today, with most of the region likely getting in the vicinity of 0.5 to 2.0 inches of rain. However some locations, possibly near or southeast of downtown Houston, may well see higher totals of 3 inches or more. Again it is difficult to predict precise amounts or locations, but this could set up some street flooding conditions later this afternoon, evening, and during the overnight hours. These rains should move offshore early on Sunday morning, and by around sunrise for the coast.
In terms of temperatures, the region will remain in the vicinity of 80 degrees into the early afternoon, but should drop into the 70s by 3 to 6 pm CT, with continued cooling after that from the front. By Sunday morning much of the area could be as low as the lower 50s, which will feel rather chilly after the extended run of warmer than usual weather we’ve experienced. Sunday afternoon should feel pretty amazing outside with clearing skies, wind gusts dropping, and highs of around 70 degrees.
