Temperatures will be mild, but we could see a few storms on Christmas Eve as a wetter pattern arrives

In brief: After a cold, winter-like weekend Houston will now see mild weather for the rest of the year. We’ll also see some rainy days, although at this point Christmas Day itself should be mostly rain free. The overall pattern looks to remain fairly warm until the start of next year, at which point conditions will probably turn significantly colder again.

End of year appreciation

As we near the end of this year, I want to thank everyone who contributes to Space City Weather. I must start with Matt, who has been with me almost since the beginning of the website, and who is the most reliable partner one could ask for. As Space City Weather has grown, Lee has kept us online for the better part of a decade—our server would have drowned during Hurricane Harvey had it not been for him. Dwight is a constant source of advice and support, and ensures we are current on social media. Hussain developed our app almost singlehandedly, and keeps it updated amid constant changes in mobile technology.

Elizabeth, Pat, Megan, and the team at Reliant have backed our site for more than seven years, living up to their name as reliable partners who have enabled us to grow and serve the entire community. Tory and Lauren at Pierpont have been so friendly and helpful (and patient) in promoting the site and supporting events. And finally, dear readers, we have you. Our very most important asset is the trust you hold for our work here. Every morning Matt and I wake up trying to make sure we build that trust, rather than lose it, which is not always the easiest thing to do when predicting the future. So during this holiday season, thank you for believing in us. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays from us, to you!

Monday

After lows generally in the 30s over the weekend, temperatures at sunrise on Monday are in the low 50s for most of the Houston metro area. And this will probably be our coldest morning this week as high pressure has departed the area and we experience a more southerly flow. Rain chances should hold off today, but we’ll see the return of some clouds as winds come from the southeast, perhaps gusting up to 20 mph this afternoon. Look for highs in the mid-70s, with a mild night and lows generally in the lower 60s.

Tuesday

Christmas Eve will be warmish, with highs in the mid-70s and mostly cloudy skies. As moisture levels rise in the atmosphere, a disturbance will bring a healthy chance of rain. Starting in the morning, our weather could turn a little bit gnarly, with enough instability to support some thunderstorms, possibly small hail, and heavy rainfall. Most areas probably will see a few tenths of an inch of rain, but some inland locations may pick up 1 inch or more. Healthy rain chances continue during the overnight hours.

Christmas Day

The stormy weather should move off to the east overnight, although we may see some lingering fog on Christmas morning. The day itself should be nice, with partly sunny skies and high temperatures in the low- to mid-70s. Winds should be light. Lows on Christmas night will fall to around 60 degrees in Houston, with cooler conditions for areas further inland.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

This period will be warm for late December, with high temperatures in the upper 70s and plenty of humidity. Each day will see rain chances on the order of 30 to 50 percent, and perhaps even higher chances on Thursday and Friday nights. All in all, I expect most of Houston to pick up 1 to 2 inches of rain during this period, with higher isolated amounts. The days won’t be a total washout, but if you have post-holiday gatherings you may need to dodge some showers. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that we do need the rain.

Sunday and beyond

A weak front arrives on Saturday at some point, and this should clear us out. Sunday should be sunny, and cooler, with nights in the 50s. By around New Year’s Eve, or so, a stronger front will arrive to really cool us down for the new year. It’s still too early to have details for the holiday, but the first week of 2025 should be significantly colder, including the potential for a freeze in parts of Houston. We shall see.