In brief: Houston’s forecast remains largely the same: highs in the low 90s with a few, sporadic showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon through the weekend. Next week should see somewhat better rain chances. I also share a tip that helps me survive summer in Houston.
A beginner’s guide to surviving summer in Houston (psychologically)
There are some people who love summer in Houston. They love the heat. They love the long days with 14 hours of sunshine. They love the ability to get a tan in about 15 minutes in the middle of the day. They abhor the onset of fall because it means the end of summer. If you’re one of those people I have two things to say to you. One, bless your heart. And two, the following section is not for you. Please skip ahead.
OK, those who are still reading “survive” summer in Houston rather than “thrive,” right? I grew up in Michigan, but moved to Texas in 1991, and arrived in H-town in 1997. This will, therefore, be my 28th summer in our (fair?) city. Growing up in Michigan I had never experienced a hurricane nor the humidity that comes along with dewpoints in the upper 70s. But in the decades since then I have learned a couple of tricks that, psychologically at least, help me weather summer weather here. I want to share one of them today.
I’m writing this post now because, in some sense, our turn toward fall begins tomorrow, on the summer solstice. It is the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere (in Houston it will be 14 hours, 2 minutes, and 18 seconds, to be precise). You probably think I’m crazy. By some definitions, this is the beginning of summer! However, it also means that, starting with Saturday, every day will be that little bit shorter for the next six months. The Sun will be that little bit lower in the sky. Accordingly we are sliding toward fall, however slowly.
Of course the hottest time of the year still remains about six to eight weeks from now, due to a variety of factors including the fact that it takes longer for water to heat up than land. And fall, in reality, is at least three months away. So this trick is just psychological. But for me, just the fact that the days are getting a wee bit shorter helps me realize that fall will come even though it is hot as blazes outside. After tomorrow, it’s inevitable.
Thursday
Our weather won’t be changing much from today through the weekend. The predominant pattern remains one of modest high pressure that will limit (but not completely exclude) rain and keep temperatures in the low 90s. For today, that means high temperatures generally in the lower 90s, with mostly sunny skies and southerly winds at 5 to 10 mph. The sea breeze this afternoon will likely spark a few afternoon showers and thunderstorms, but I expect these to be fairly scattered in nature. Lows tonight will be in the upper 70s.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
We are basically locked into the same pattern through the weekend. If you have outdoor plans you can generally expect sunny skies, but you may have to briefly dodge a few showers. Overall daily rain chances are probably in the ballpark of 20 percent. Otherwise late June is going to feel like late June.
Next week
As high pressure begins to ease off to the east, overall atmospheric conditions will begin to favor increased rain chances. I don’t think we’re looking at any type of flooding, but we should see enough light to moderate rainfall next week to help limit high temperatures to about 90 degrees for most of the week. All in all, conditions look to be fairly mild for June in Houston, which isn’t nothing.
Moved here in ‘89 from Western New York State and I totally understand what you’re saying 🙂
You are a glass half full kinda guy! LOL I appreciate the effort to make me feel better about the heat and humidity.
Is the GFS still quirky in early July as it is in June? (I hope so)
Thank you for your expert explanations!
As a native of SE Texas, summer is hot and that’s the fact Jack! But…I have found that, if I talk or complain about the heat in June or July, that just seems to prolong the summer unnecessarily. Instead, I avoid those water cooler conversations about the heat…until August, then I let it all hang out! Because sometimes fronts start making their way into H-Town a few weeks into September, and it cools down to like 88 degrees and everyone starts thinking it’s fall and pulls out their sweaters! This strategy of denial means you only have a month in a half of hot weather…August and maybe half of September! All our our newly arrived neighbors thank me when I share this strategy with them!
I agree with you. It doesn’t even get that hot until August. Anyway, sweat is good for us!
The high/low temperature forecast for Washington D.C., for next week is:
Mon 100/80 Tue 100/81 Wed 100/76.
So, the Houston area isn’t alone, temp wise👍.
Born and raised in the surrounding Houston area (Magnolia now), so we never think about summer temps … it’s “the way it is around these parts”. Hurricanes can be a nuisance, though.
I do the same thing with the winter solstice. I know the days are getting longer however tiny the increment. Yes, I’m one that loves the summer but I grew up in Texas.
Bless your heart! I actually sigh a little bit on the winter solstice …
To me, the worst part of surviving summers around here is hurricanes. I’ve lived through every hurricane to affect the Texas coast starting with Carla as an 8-year-old living in Galveston. Nothing stresses me out more than hurricane season.
Surley, you remember the torrid summer of 1998. Even by today’s standards that was a standout summer right there. There was also periods of extreme heat during the summer of 2000.
Not to mention 2011 which, in my book, was the hotest amd perhaps the droughtiest I remember.
Yes 2011 was definitely the king for heat and drought across all of Texas. 1980 and 2023 were the other 2 legendary summer across our area.
Been here since 2004 so can’t speak for ‘98, but thus far 2011 was the worst followed by 2023.
You guys with your ‘remember when’ comments are hilarious, as if there is no upward curve to the heat we are experiencing. And did you meant to write ‘Surely’?
As a native to the area, I still abhor the l-o-n-g summers here. I like to be outside but the humidity makes it difficult.
I often plan a trip out of town in late August as a psychological escape before the last stretch of our summer weather.
If we’ve made it to mid-June with moderate heat and a lot of rain? We are doing alright. I know we hit nearly 100 in May, but the more rain we get the greener the grass stays and that can make a (slight) difference in how hot it gets. I’ve lived in Texas since ‘86, Houston since 2000 (with detours living in DC and Pittsburgh) I tell newbies that it really doesn’t “cool off” until Halloween and I’m often in shorts at Thanksgiving. And, btw, I’ll take a Texas summer over a Pittsburgh winter any day of the week!
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh and was going to say the same thing. Moved Florida in 1971, then Texas in 1980. I would not willingly go back to those winters.
It’s worse when you start hitting low 90s in March and April, when summer starts before summer starts. But right now, being past the solstice means there is a tiny light at the end of the summer tunnel. Before we know it, school will start back, then football, then hurricane season, and finally Fall will arrive when maybe, just maybe, we’ll get our recycling picked up.
If it makes you feel any better, I was born and raised in southeast Texas and I feel the same way you do. The humidity is really the problem.
I don’t know if it truly helps any, but my psychological trick to get through the summers recently has been to count the weeks instead of the days. 9 weeks til September just on some psychological level feels better than 74 days.
Maybe it’s because by this point, we’re typically mowing once a week, and I really don’t wanna by the time August comes around. And I know we’re getting close to only needing to do single digit cuts left.
Face the heat head on. Go outside for a walk at 3PM. Go for a run in the morning and greet the rising sun. Lay in the grass at 2PM. Feel the radiation. Sweat through the humidity. Learn to love that which we cannot change. This is the best way to deal with summer heat in Houston.
Before you know it, you will think 90 degrees feels moderate. A slight breeze and you will have goose bumps. September starts to feel chilly.
Summer is summer. No use complaining about it.
The complainers about summer also complain about winter, as well as complaining about drought, and also when we get too much rain.
“While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease.”
Genesis 8:22
Amen!
Sure, until the eventual heat death of the universe.
I am a native, and have lived in two other places, Los Angeles and Saudi Arabia. When I start to feel as though summer will never end (and honestly, it’s hot through sometimes mid November here) I remember how I felt when I stepped off the plane onto the tarmac in Dharhan, and the humidity slapped me in the face. It was 110F in the summer there with 80 to 90% humidity. I will never forget that. Houston is absolutely awful, but that was just a smidge worse (at the time – we’ll see how things change 🙁 )
*Dhahran
Spelled it wrong. Dhahran. Whoops
In Riyadh it was 130 degrees, but quite dry, in Jeddah very humid being on the Red Sea. However, I fail to see what that has to do with Houston’s heat. Maybe the Arabs don’t mind the heat – as if they have a choice – but I do. This heat and humidity stinks!
Thank you for your humorous insight to surviving the Houston summers. I am not particularly one who likes the humidity and heat so your comment gave me a small ray of light at the end of the tunnel.
my indicator that summer might actually end is when Point Barrow Alaska finally has sunset, which will be August 1.
Thank you for your understanding and insight to survive Houston summers. It truly, truly helps! I also try not to complain too much until August, go swimming at night to reset my body temperature, and my new summer hack is hanging out in the cheese aisle at HEB. Even colder than a movie theater and can grocery shop too.
I love that
I just told my friend this morning that the days will start getting shorter! (as we were running and sweating our butts off). Helps me mentally to know that.
Tell us where the ridge is. The 10 day model will indicate when it might move or that it’s stuck. Tell us. Maybe there’s a trough (or depression) in the offing that gives people hope. This is such a weird area of the country where persistent summer blue sky is a humid desert but without the nightly cool down. 300 miles east you don’t see that. Nothing like it …except I guess gulf adjacent KSA
Personally, I detest the summers here. And I moved down in 1980. You’d think I’d be used to it by now. It’s just an endurance test for me, plus being dipped in hot glue.
My Summer Survival Strategies:
1. Sit outside sometimes, to become acclimated, as another commentor said. The following two steps will help with this.
2. Cold iced Cafe du Monde made with tons of brown sugar and milk at 2 pm, outside. It’s the worst part of the day but you get to have coffee!
3. Wine and Chips O’Clock at 4 pm, outside. The worst part of the day’s heat is over! (I prefer white wine and potato chips.)
4. August 14: official Changing of the Morning Light Day. The sunlight in the morning changes from harsh blue-white to a softer yellow-white.
5. August 28 CHANGING OF THE LIGHT DAY!!! The light is noticably softer and golden. You have made it thru the worst. Only a month until the moveable feast that is COOL FRONT DAY!!!
Oh, and visit the gem and mineral section of the Science Museum. Like being in an ice cold glittery sparkly cave.
I have always thought that way about how the light changes by August. In one sense it’s very encouraging but in another, it reminds us to watch hurricane forcasting with obsession. I love the idea of 2 o’clock iced coffee and 4 o’clock wine and chips…..especially for those fortunate enough to have shade in the afternoon!
It’s my sixty-eighth
Houston Summer. Just an-
Other road bump in life.
Reason Southeast Tex-
An women are so hot? It’s
The humidity!
The Summer of 1980 was a very hot Summer.
Funny, my mom, in Michigan, uses the same methodology to get through Winter. Once she gets to the Winter solstice, she knows days will start getting longer and it won’t be dark at 4:30pm anymore.