Houston residents are gearing up for a roller coaster of weather this weekend as clear skies today give way to an arctic blast expected to bring the coldest temperatures since last December, per the National Weather Service. Today's weather features sunny conditions with fast-falling temperatures, dropping to about 49 degrees by this evening, while gusting winds could reach highs of 35 mph.
Warmth won't stay gone for long, as Saturday anticipates increasing clouds with a high near 62 degrees but according to the Storm Prediction Center, no severe thunderstorms are forecasted, making for a relatively calm before the literal cold front hits. Likewise a report by the Houston Chronicle noted that the wind advisories in effect through early afternoon Friday could offer gusts as strong as 35 to 40 mph.
Sunday brings the brunt of the frigid air, with daytime highs hovering near a chilly 44 degrees and the approach of yet another front promising a stark drop in temperatures and clear skies offering no shield from the penetrating cold. For those running the Chevron Houston Marathon on Sunday, they should expect biting wind chills in the lower to mid-30s, the Houston Chronicle advises runners to wear layers and hydrate well in these conditions.
As the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday approaches, Houston is bracing for a mix of rain showers and potential freezing drizzle with the weather service predicting a 30% chance of precipitation and highs barely scraping 37 degrees. The Houston Chronicle anticipates the city's first freeze since last year late Sunday into early Monday, with temperatures projected to plunge below the 28-degree mark that constitutes a hard freeze. With the cold snap, Houstonians prepping for MLK Day festivities should be ready for a cold one as high temps likely won't leave the 30s, any resulting power outages from early morning freezing precipitation could disrupt the holiday, but no major issues like the February 2021 freeze are expected.
