Houston residents can expect a continuation of sunny skies and rising temperatures, as the city is set to experience highs creeping into the mid-nineties this week. The National Weather Service's detailed forecast for Houston indicates today will remain sunny, with a high near 92 and a north wind around 5 mph. Tonight, the skies will stay clear, with a low around 72, and a Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Monday promises similar conditions, with the high inching up to near 94. NWS Houston echoes this sunny outlook through Wednesday.
As Houstonians prepare to step outside, they should also be aware of the heat index levels for the region. An Ozone Action Day has been declared to help to quickly raise awareness regarding air quality. The midday highs for today and tomorrow are expected to hover in the low nineties, with minimal rain chances until the latter part of the week when thunderstorms may enter the forecasts, according to a statement obtained by the NWS Houston on X. These temperatures can often feel warmer when factoring in humidity and other conditions that contribute to the heat index.
Here are the expected SE TX high temperatures for today and Monday along with the high temperature and rain chance outlooks for Tuesday thru Saturday. An Ozone Action Day is in effect for today (https://t.co/WyilNqmGC2). #txwx #houwx #glswx #bcswx pic.twitter.com/5mHOPOahFM
— NWS Houston (@NWSHouston) September 29, 2024
Contrary to the city's baking temperatures, severe thunderstorm threats seem to be at bay. Based on information provided by NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK, "no severe thunderstorm areas are forecast" for today, ensuring that Houstonians need not worry about harsh weather interrupting their daily routines. The synopsis denotes a slow-moving mid/upper-level pattern over much of the Continental U.S., with "weak moisture/buoyancy (MLCAPE generally less than 100 J/kg)" being the main contributors to a lack of severe weather risks. NWS Storm Prediction Center notes the weak potential for isolated, high-based convection over portions of Utah, possibly extending into other areas.
The local weather situation comes as a slight relief compared to other parts of the country, where a cut-off low over south-central California is expected to drift back toward the Pacific Ocean. In Florida, boundary-layer moisture supports the chance for sporadic thunderstorm activity, mainly from midday through early evening. Houstonians, however, should be able to partake in outdoor activities or run their errands without significant weather disruptions, save for next Friday, when there's a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms to potentially break the sunny streak, according to the NWS forecast.
