The sun will now disappear from the sky for awhile

Well, the sunshine was nice while it lasted. But now we’re returning to a period of mostly cloudy weather for the next several days, and we probably won’t see much sustained sunshine until Sunday or so. After today we’ll also see a warming trend through Friday before the season’s strongest Arctic front to date roars through the area.

Tuesday

Temperatures are starting out in the 40s for most of the region, and due to thickening clouds they’re unlikely to rise much past the mid-50s. However, winds will be fairly light, from the east, so overall today should be a fairly mild winter day. Lows tonight will only drop a few degrees from daytime highs as a warmer, moister southerly flow begins later today.

Highs by Thursday will be positively spring like for Houston. (National Weather Service)

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday

We’ll see continued mostly gray conditions for the second half of the work week, as well as rising temperatures and rain chances. Highs will transition from the 60s on Wednesday into the 70s on Thursday and Friday. Lows probably won’t fall much below 60, if at all, due to the persistent cloud deck. Rising moisture levels will mean the return of on-again, off-again light to moderate rain chances. While we can’t rule out a few thunderstorms, generally we expect moderate accumulations through Friday, with only a few tenths of an inch of rain for most.

Saturday

Hello, cold front. Rain chances will increase late Friday night, and Saturday before noon, as an Arctic front pushes through Houston and moves off the coast. Timing remains somewhat uncertain, but as a best guess it appears as though the front will move through central Houston around mid-morning, and off the coast before noon. Temperatures will fall from around 60 degrees in the morning, into the low 50s during the afternoon, and winds will blow out of the north-northwest at up to 20mph or greater.

Sunday

This will be a cold, blustery day. Lows Sunday morning will probably vary from mid-20s for well inland areas in Montgomery County to near 40 degrees right at the coast. Exact temperatures will be difficult to determine for another few days, but for certain it will be cold and windy, as gusty conditions continue throughout Sunday morning and probably into the early afternoon hours. If you’re running the Houston Marathon, expect wind chill temperatures down around 20 degrees, and possibly even colder than that. Highs Sunday are unlikely to rise much above 40 degrees for most of Houston even with sunny skies. Another freeze for much of the region, away from the coast, seems likely for Sunday night.

Current National Weather Service forecast lows for Sunday night. (Weather Bell)

Early next week

Expect a warming trend through Tuesday before another front, with a decent splash of rain, keeps most of next week chilly. Temperatures should be warm enough to prevent any mischievous wintry mix.

18 thoughts on “The sun will now disappear from the sky for awhile”

    • Went and bought some cold weather gear Monday night. I’ve never run in anything but shorts …

      • lol. I hear you. Lung burn is my biggest problem running in cold weather. I think I’m breathing in through nose and out through mouth and I cover my face but it still starts burning my throat and esophagus. Sweaty cold feet too. Good luck Sunday and hopefully it won’t be too bad with the wind.

      • Extra glad I’m only doing the half this year. I mean, I much prefer it colder than warm, but this is colder than I’d like.

      • Good luck Sunday!!! All I can tell you from running it in 1997 (the freeze/ice storm) is heat warmers for your hands inside your gloves and keep your face warm in addition to your body. My nose had icicles. 🙂

  1. As a half-marathon runner, I’ll take cold and blustery over warm and humid ANY DAY. Thanks for the update!

  2. Happiness to see this only refers to the clouds. I feared another eclipse which sends my dear Fulgencio into untold worries and he does not always believe my tellings the sun will come back! I hope all enjoy the cold and have no problems!

  3. It’s been a while since we’ve had an arctic front so I’m pretty excited about this one! I always find it fascinating how quickly the mercury can drop with these types of fronts, where it might be 70 in Houston but 45 in Huntsville.

  4. I’m just ready for more than three days without rain. We haven’t been able to do anything in our yard for what seems to be months. Never thought I’d wish for a drought.

  5. Running 26.2 on Sunday. The cold air doesn’t scare me, but that wind may be brutal. Even with proper gear, cold wind is hard to manage on a long run. Good luck everyone!

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