Houston residents should prepare for a soggy end to the week as a mix of heat and incoming tropical moisture sets the stage for possible heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. According to the National Weather Service, there's a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the Houston area today, especially between noon and 5 p.m. Highs are expected to hover near 93 degrees with heat index values soaring as high as 103 degrees. Residents can anticipate southeast winds blowing at 5 to 10 mph and should watch for new rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch. The NWS forecasts a continuing chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout the weekend and into next week.
FOX 26 has issued a Storm Alert for today, warning of rounds of heavy rain due to tropical moisture affecting the region today and tomorrow. With an area of low pressure strengthening in the southern Gulf, the chance of isolated flash flooding along the Texas coast is a concern. Houston sits at a 1/4 risk for flooding. The local population should remain alert for any changes, especially given the prospects of isolated street flooding and a high rip current risk on Friday and Saturday.
The wider meteorological picture indicates more disturbances in the Atlantic. Tropical Storm Erin is expected to intensify into a hurricane and could develop into a major hurricane soon. Although Erin is predicted to miss the Caribbean and mainly affect Bermuda, it will likely stir up larger waves along the East Coast, from Florida to New England.
Amid these tropical disturbances, Houston's weather outlook is slated to hold to a familiar pattern: a daily dose of scattered storms coupled with humid highs in the mid-90s next week. As the Gulf Low heads to South Texas and the chance of a brief tropical depression lingers at 50%, according to FOX 26, residents should prepare for a mix of sun, downpours, and the ever-present Houston heat.
