Space City Weather turns five—so here’s how we’re celebrating

It is difficult for me to believe, but Space City Weather turns five years old tomorrow. (Here’s our first post). I remember it well. I left the Houston Chronicle’s downtown office that afternoon, a Friday, after a nice send-off from my colleagues following 17 wonderful years at the newspaper. I had intended to at least take the weekend off before starting a weather website, as a hobby. But with impending storms and heavy rain that weekend, my wife and I put off a celebratory dinner on Friday night while I created Space City Weather and dove headlong into the effort. Matt joined from the outset and Reliant soon came on as a sponsor. Then, Hurricane Harvey hit two years later, and the rest is history.

Looking ahead, we’re going to continue to make site improvements. Most notably, many readers have asked for an app. Frankly, making a free, quality app is a really big ask for such a small site like ours, but we are planning to make this happen in the coming months, and will have more to say soon. We also are planning other small improvements, but the site is going to remain true to the core mission that I outlined in that first post five years ago—”informative, hype-free forecasting.” Thank you to everyone who was there at the beginning, or found us along the way.

Thursday

Temperatures are generally in the low 70s across the Houston area this morning, with dewpoints to match, making for fairly humid conditions. This has also led to some fog in the area that has reduced visibility. After the fog dissipates we can expect a partly sunny day, with highs in the mid 80s, along with light southeast winds. We can’t rule out a few isolated showers, but they should be fleeting. Lows tonight will be similarly warm.

Friday

This day will start out a lot like Thursday, but will change as a front pushes into the area. The front should arrive in northwest areas, such as Brenham, around sunset, push through the city during the evening or overnight hours, and reach the coast around midnight or a few hours later. Some models are now suggesting the front may have a little more oomph than we first anticipated, allowing for low temperatures to possibly drop into the 50s on Saturday morning. Emphasis on possibly.

Saturday

In the wake of this front, conditions will be pretty nice on Saturday, with partly to mostly sunny skies and highs likely only reaching the upper 70s. However, the front is going to wash out pretty quickly, so with onshore winds returning we can expect a warmer night, likely in the upper 60s for most.

Temperatures in Houston should be 10 to 15 degrees cooler on Saturday morning than Friday morning. (Weather Bell)

Sunday and Monday

We should be back to fairly humid, warm weather on Sunday and Monday, with highs somewhere in the 80s and plenty of sunshine.

Next week

When it comes to next week’s forecast we’re still in something a of a throwing darts at a dart board mode. Some models want to bring a strong front into Houston late on Monday or Tuesday, with a reinforcing front later in the week, making for much cooler fall weather all week. Others bring a front close to Houston on Tuesday, before it stalls, and awaiting a reinforcing front later in the week to push all the way off the coast. So while we’re pretty confident significantly cooler weather is on the way, I’m not sure whether that happens on Tuesday or Thursday. The good news is that whenever a front does push all the way through, it should also bring some rain with it. Again, details on how much, etc., remain very much up in the air. Literally!

85 thoughts on “Space City Weather turns five—so here’s how we’re celebrating”

  1. Happy Anniversary! Been with you since your Houston Chronicle days and from the very beginning of SCW! We really appreciate all that you do to keep us informed!

  2. Congratulations to you both, it’s been a journey watching the site – and your lives – grow and evolve but you two keep delivering solid (and entertaining) content. Long may it continue

    • Congrats! I found y’all during Harvey and never looked back. Told my sis who lives up in DFW about y’all, and she said there needs to be people like y’all in every city. Can’t wait for the app! I would totally pay for it.

  5. Happy 5 years! You guys are so exacting and honest in your prediciotns, Thank you!

  6. I’m a newbie to the site but I’m hooked. Happy Anniversary! Looking forward to another five years and more…Thanks for the great work.

  9. Congrats and thanks. Been following you since you were the Chronicle’s SciGuy. You and Matt do a great job.

  11. I was with you during Ike and truthfully, I was sad to see you leave the Chronicle. You were the only one I trusted! Little did I know how much of a great move that was for you and for your readers! Congratulations on 5 years, Space City Weather! Here’s to many more!

  13. United the app is more than the excitement content you already have, it’s not needed.

    If you want an icon on your home screen, on android just click three dots in the upper right and “add to home screen”. Also you can get an RSS aggregator like Feedly, which has an app, or have the newsletter sent to your email.

    Eric, let me know if you need screenshots. Feels like a lot of cost and effort vs other things you could do.

  15. I was hesitant to check it out because I’m old school and have always watched the “tv weather”. Y’all are everything I had heard. You are now my daily go to and I couldn’t be happier. Happy 5 year. 💚

  16. Add me to the chorus of wishing you a fantastic “Happy 5 Year Anniversary”! I wasn’t here at the very beginning but I was here before Hurricane Harvey.

    Don’t feel pressured to create an app – y’all are doing a wonderful job as it is. There’s something to be said for consistently good current product and I don’t want y’all to stretch yourselves too thin.

    I’m looking forward to next month’s site fundraiser! Please take some of my money. (You don’t hear that too often.)

  17. Congratulations on your anniversary. The Chronicle of old is a great place to have worked. They were the launching pad of quite a few great folks.

  18. You don’t mention what type of app you are thinking (specific to Android? iOS?), but I would recommend you look into making a PWA (Progressive Web App). That way you aren’t maintaining multiple things.

  19. Happy Anniversary! You’ve been with us in fair weather and bad, and we appreciate you for all of the best no hype weather news all these years. Also, it’s my anniversary as well — it’s a great day all around!

  22. Congratulations my friend. You guys have been a source of sanity and quality information for many of us in those five years. Thank you.

  23. Eric and Matt, Thank you for your efforts and te hype free forcasting. I have been with you since the days of “should Katy evacuate” and the transition when that no longer became humor. I have turned my entire division on to SCW as the go to source for all weather. All the success and recognition is well deserved.

    Happy Anniversary

  24. Happy Anniversary. Started following you at the Chronicle and haven’t missed a day since. Thank you.

  25. Congrats on 5 years! Have followed you since your Chronicle days. Just moved to Galveston and will rely upon you even more for weather with no drama!

  26. Thank you for five years of service. You’ve been especially helpful during challenging weather events. I appreciate the no-hype. Fear tactics are never part of your forecast.

  27. Cheers to you and Matt and congratulations on your fifth year anniversary! I remember when you left the Chronicle, remember being sad that the science guy was leaving, but how glad I am now that you started space city weather. Thank you for your public service, your love for this city and her people shines through.

  29. Congratulations on 5 years! I’m one of the many who loves, and has benefitted from y’all’s work. Thankful for you guys.

  31. I got credited with a Christmas day photo on the Sci-guy blog years ago about some Mexican dust blowing into Houston,
    I remember Eric’s coverage of Ike…what a week that was. You and Matt do a great job.
    I suspect Space city is a bedrock for most of Southeast Texas by now. But, it’s time for a logo refresh for a new year gear fundraiser! With a following this big, I bet someone would do it for free.

  32. Congrats on 5 years! You should consider selling merchandise with your logo. An umbrella or sun hat with your logo seems appropriate!

    • They sold T-shirts last year I believe… I do have a storm shirt with the SCW logo – my climbing shirt 🙂

  33. Happy name day! Not going to lie, I scrolled past the logo at the top too fast and read “Space City Weather — No Hope”. Had some Hurricane Harvey flashbacks! No Hype makes WAAAY more sense!

  34. Happy anniversary – the ones celebrating are us, for having a reliable source for weather forecast, which is most needed in stressful times. So thanks!

  35. Happy Anniversary! Found your site during the 2020 hurricane season from a co-worker. Keep up the great work!

  36. Happy fifth! Can’t believe it’s been that long.

    I’d pay for an app that makes it rain in your yard on demand, and also one that can park a nice big cumulonimbus over your house during the day in July and August.

  37. Thanks for being the best forecasters and weather geeks in Houston! As others have said, an app would be good, and I’d be willing to pay for it. But, you are just as easy to read this way. Either way, I’ll be here daily.

  38. Congrats on 5 years! You have been my go-to for a loooong time: since your Houston Chronicle days. Keep up the great work!

  39. Having an iOS app would be fantastic. Personally, I don’t mind paying for it either. Most of the quality wx apps come with a subscription fee. Not everything in this life needs to be free.

  40. Happy birthday Space City weather. Thank you for bring us the weather news every day. Congratulations!

  41. Happy Anniversary! I’ve been following you since Hurricane Rita, way back when we evacuated Katy. In fact, I still call you SciGuy!

    Thank you for all your hard work over the years!

  42. Happy Anni! I’ve learned so much about the weather following you guys over the years! I really appreciate the work you all do. App sounds fantastic but know that the emails and mobile friendly site is already pretty awesome. Thank you!

  43. Thank you I love your weather honest and no HYPE! If the wind is 40 mph no it could be worse and tear off roofs the TV exasperated it so much! Just give us your best information and you do! Thanks again!

  45. Eric and Matt. As a native Houstonian of 64+ yrs I really appreciate the hard work y’all put in. Your email is the first I read daily. 5 yrs…wow… congrats.

    I LOVE the app idea. I hope you can make it work. I’d pay for it especially if there was a way to tie home weather stations to it to give you more live days through the day. You know the days when it’s 55F in Conroe and 85F in League City because a front decided to crap out along the 59 corridor (notice I said 59, not I69…I hate that we are pushing out food old 59, the southwest freeway from our Houston speak).

    Thanks again for all of your hard work and calm and hypeless and dramaless weather coverage.

  46. Congratulations on your 5 year anniversary and thanks to your wife who gave up a dinner. When my family calls me concerned about what is being reported about the latest Houston weather event, I always send them to this site. You may not forecast the weather I would like to have but it is always an accurate forecast of the weather in Houston – without drama. Thanks for never publishing a photo of you or Matt standing under a palm tree in a hurricane pointing out the fronds as they blow by.

  47. Thanks for a great five years! I’ve kept following your posts even though I’ve left the area and will continue to do so. Y’all give great weather info!

  48. Found y’all while I was living out of state during Harvey. Since then, moved back to Htown and y’all are a daily resource. Congratulations on 5 wonderful years. Would be happy to donate, buy merch, etc. towards an app!

  50. Thanks for all you do! Was there for the first post and will be there as long as y’all are posting! Have shared the site with so many people who are also grateful for the info and the relative calm provided.

  51. Happy anniversary! Like so many I found you during Harvey. You are our entire family’s go to weather site. My son gave me a SCW shirt for Christmas the first year they came out. I think I’ll wear it today in honor of your anniversary. I would definitely pay for an app, but like many, I don’t feel like I need it. All the best!

  52. Congrats for your 5 year anniversary! Glad I found your site recently this year, very informative.
    Let’s hope for 5 more years of Space city weather!

  53. Happy Anniversary! Thank you for keeping my sanity through Harvey and all other things weird weather. Y’all are awesome. 🙂

  54. Congratulations Space City Weather for your 5th anniversary ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I’ve been with since near the beginning because I was a big fan of Eric’s Sci Guy column on the Chronicle. You guys consistently demonstrate that you are the best website for weather anywhere and Houston is fortunate to have this valuable asset for our region 👏👏👏

  55. Happy 5th Birthday! What an awesome service – no hype weather forecasting! It is much appreciated!! Thank you!

  57. Congrats and Happy Birthday SCW – been a fan for such a long time! Thanks for all the hard work y’all do!

  58. I racked my brain on when I discovered Space City Weather. I guess I discovered SciGuy on Facebook when Hurricane Ike was approaching Houston. I guess I discovered Space City Weather on Facebook when Hurricane Harvey was approaching Texas.

  59. Eric, I’m echoing the call for an app. I need you and Matt on my phone. Please consider making a plea for donations to fund it. I’m in if you do that. Thanks

  60. Congratulations on creating a successful and invaluable tool. There are so few! I have been a faithful follower since Day 1. A good friend just moved to Florida and is lamenting the lack of a service like yours for their new environs.

  61. Congradulations—Best Wishes and continued success. Read you every day. My neighbor told me
    about you two good gentlemen and the fine work you are doing and the superb service you are
    providing us. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
    Mindy Meeker
    1815 Linfield Way
    Houston, 77058.

  63. The comments blow up on news like this, and not a single troll among them. That speaks volumes about the service you’ve been providing. You have my many thanks and congratulations.
    Been following you since beginning SciGuy days, even before evacuating Katy became a thing. I miss your Chronicle stories, but love what you’ve been doing here and Ars.

  64. Happy Birthday. Have enjoyed your daily updates (sometimes multiple times a day). Refreshing, readable, and relatable. Keep up the great reporting.

  65. I am so very lucky and blessed today have found you during the horrible Harvey times! Thank ti my son who introduce me to your amazing site and knowledgeable information!! Thank you, thank you for your work, and cheers to your success, health and happiness!!

  67. Congratulations!!! Our son-in-love told us about you during Harvey. He said “These guys are the best ones to follow for the weather. No hysteria or hype”. I’m so glad that he directed us to y’all! Congratulations on your 5 year anniversary. Quite an accomplishment. Thank you for keeping us well informed, and often with a little humor, too. Blessings to you, Matt and your families.

  70. Congratulations on FIVE Years! I can’t believe I only learned about you three months ago ( from our choir director). Your no nonsense journalism is outstanding. For many many years I relied on local newscasters but your reporting is light years ahead of the local weatherman. I have read every single e mail of yours since discovering you 3 months ago. What can your loyal fan base do for you to contribute to your continued success ?

  71. Congrats! I’m one of the many who found you during Harvey. Interesting to think that I’ve been following you for more than half your life.

  72. My son turned me onto you guys this hurricane season – 2020 and I love it! No hype. I don’t need an app. I am good with it as is. Keep on keeping on. And as they say in Newfoundland – today was a “large” day.

  74. Congratulations Space City. Following since the chron and brag about you guys every chance I can. Looking forward to the future!

  76. Thank you for sharing that first entry. I found you during Harvey and have sing this sites praises every since.
    Thank you both for what you do and how you do it!

  77. Congratulations on such a successful endeavor! Combining passion with employment and taking that first leap of faith is the epitome of the American Dream. Way to go guys!!!

  79. Guys, congratulations on your five year anniversary.
    Thanks for all the great work.
    Those of us that are native or long time Houstonians have seen for ourselves the risks associated with hype driven information and the ensuing panic it can generate.
    And, we also know how helpful information that is as accurate as possible can be when preparing for weather related disaster threats.
    Thanks again.

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