Brace yourselves, Houstonians—the city is set to bake this week under a sweltering sun, with forecasters predicting temperatures to climb near the 100-degree mark. According to the latest update from the National Weather Service, today's skies will be sunny, pushing the heat index values to soar as high as 107 degrees. From the calm morning to the night's minimal breezy respite, the warmth is set to persist with lows hovering around the upper 70s.
Heat is not to be the only concern this week, as severe weather is to also make a statement across different parts of the country. The NWS Storm Prediction Center out of Norman, Okla., has indicated that areas from northern Florida to southern Georgia and coastal South Carolina face a "slight risk" of severe thunderstorms. "Severe thunderstorms are possible today and tonight from the Upper Ohio Valley into New England, across portions of the Upper Midwest, and from northern Florida into southern Georgia and southeast South Carolina," according to a statement obtained by NWS Storm Prediction Center.
The extreme heat in Houston is expected to peak midweek according to the Heat Index Outlook on X: "Triple digit heat is expected for most inland areas by mid-week. Low/mid 90s at the coast. Heat index values may approach 110F." Residents are advised to take the necessary precautions to beat the heat by staying hydrated and seeking shade whenever possible.
If y'all enjoy the feeling of being inside a slow cooker, then this week's weather is for you!
— NWS Houston (@NWSHouston) August 5, 2024
Triple digit heat is expected for most inland areas by mid-week. Low/mid 90s at the coast.
Heat index values may approach 110F.
Stay hydrated y'all! #HOUwx #GLSwx #BCSwx #TXwx pic.twitter.com/ZG8VdvJB6q
The local weather focus may be on the climbing mercury, but eyes are also on Hurricane Debbie. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center are tracking the storm’s path, predicting it to make landfall along Florida's Big Bend area before pushing through into Georgia. While Houston remains under the grip of the sun, those in Hurricane Debbie's path are preparing to weather her rains and winds. "Within the eastern semicircle of the tropical cyclone across northern FL/southeast GA and coastal SC, low-level SRH will be maximized within an airmass characterized by mid 70s F dewpoints. Tornado potential will accompany any deeper updrafts across this area," as detailed by the NWS Storm Prediction Center.
