Houston won’t get any colder weather this week, even though fall has arrived
The autumn equinox, the astronomical first day of fall, is just around the corner, and many people are looking forward to cooler weather. However, in Houston, you may have to wait a little longer before the kiss of fresh fall air reaches you in flannel.
Sunny skies all days of the week
After several windy days last week that produced a few inches of beneficial rain recorded at Houston’s official climate monitoring site, Bush Intercontinental Airport, we head into this week with drier weather. Sunny skies will continue throughout at least Wednesday with rain-free conditions.
Don’t forget your sunglasses before heading out the door. As we approach winter, and the northern half of the planet begins to tilt away from the sun, we will begin to notice the sun hanging low on the horizon during commute hours. We’ve all been driving to work in the morning without wondering if we were actually driving into the sun instead. It’s not fun, so keep those sunglasses handy.
Mostly sunny skies were seen over Texas from space via the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite on Monday. Cumulus will rise each afternoon this week, but mostly sunny skies will still be present.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationTemperatures rise gradually
Welcome to fall (sort of)! For those wondering, we have been in a climate fall since September 1st. Astronomical fall, which depends on Earth’s angle toward the sun and our planet’s position in its solar orbit, begins later this week. Does this mean fall-like temperatures are expected? of course not. Tuesday, which will likely be the “coolest” day in Houston this week, will still have high temperatures generally in the lower 90s.
By Wednesday and Thursday, highs will approach the mid-90s as dew points, or temperatures that indicate the level of humidity in the air, begin to rise. Although I don’t think the high temperatures will return this week, the humidity could make the air feel that way by the end of the week. Heat index values, or “hairy” temperatures, will likely be in the upper 90s to near 100 degrees by Thursday and Friday.
A few isolated storms are possible
An increase in dew points by mid-week will bring the potential for some rain and storms. An isolated chance of stray rain cannot be completely ruled out by Wednesday along the coast. Even there, the risk of a storm is only 20 to 30 percent, so most of Southeast Texas will remain rain-free. For inland areas, the chance of an isolated storm begins by Thursday. No matter where you are in the region, don’t expect rain to be as widespread as it was last week. When rain is not spreading across the sky, skies should remain partly or mostly sunny.
The forecast through early October calls for slightly rainy times for parts of the Lone Star State. Rainfall chances are expected to be near average near southeast Texas and Houston.
Climate Prediction Center/Weather Pivotal