Commuters in Houston faced a wet and potentially disruptive journey home Tuesday evening as storms moved in, bringing the threat of showers and thunderstorms to the area. According to the National Weather Service's detailed forecast, there was a "20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm," with conditions deteriorating into the night. Houstonians were advised to prepare for significant rainfall, especially during the nighttime hours.
As predicted, the downpour began close to the start of the evening rush hour. By midnight, some parts of the metro area were expected to receive up to a half-inch of rain, increasing to nearly three-quarters of an inch across the region. The National Weather Service indicated volatile weather with a "90% chance of precipitation," as stated in a weather advisory posted on their website.
According to a forecast discussion by the Storm Prediction Center, "isolated thunderstorms may occur across parts of South East and coastal California on Wednesday." Yet severe thunderstorms were deemed unlikely, easing concerns over potential damage and disruptions. The synopsis and discussion, accessible on the Storm Prediction Center's page, further elaborated that "appreciable severe potential over land still appears low."
The Houston Chronicle reported that the rain event was expected to have widespread showers but absent were "robust thunderstorm cores" or a setup for flooding. This was corroborated by weather service meteorologist Sean Luchs who explained that the rain event would lack the severity of a "training storm" scenario. In a statement obtained by the Houston Chronicle, Luchs remarked that the environment was "unlikely to give us rain rates or amounts that are unmanageable."
Temperatures are expected to stay cool following the storm with Wednesday's highs predicted to be in the 50s. Overnight lows could drop into the 30s in more rural areas, while urban and coastal regions may see lows in the low to mid-40s. The influence of high atmospheric pressure will bring sunny skies and higher temperatures of around 59 degrees by Thursday.
