As Houston braces for another hot weekend with increasing chances of showers and thunderstorms, residents are urged to prepare for potentially heavy rainfall. The National Weather Service forecasts a 30 percent chance of rain today, primarily between 3 pm and 5 pm, with a high near 96 degrees and heat index values reaching up to 103. The evening will see the possibility of further showers and thunderstorms before tapering off after 2 am.
The weather pattern takes a muggy turn as the weekend proceeds, due to a cold front that's expected to stall in the vicinity of Houston. According to FOX 26 Houston, the front may struggle to fully clear the area, sustaining a humid atmosphere with a good chance for showers and a few storms. With the rain could come heavy downpours, posing a risk for isolated street flooding in Southeast Texas. The National Weather Service puts the chance of precipitation tomorrow at a robust 70 percent, with new rainfall amounts varying from a light drizzle to potentially heavier deluges during thunderstorms.
The outlook for Sunday and beyond remains similarly unsettled, as reported by the National Weather Service, with a continual 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. As the new week starts, Monday keeps this pattern with mostly sunny skies but a persistent threat for rain in the afternoon. Temperatures are predicted to stay in the low nineties, giving some reprieve from the heat.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic hurricane season has remained quieter than usual, attributed by experts to the presence of Saharan dust. This typically suppresses hurricane development and has resulted in fewer strong tropical waves. "So far this hurricane season, Saharan dust has dominated across the Atlantic resulting in a lack of many strong tropical waves and a quiet pattern," as noted by FOX 26 Houston. As August progresses, however, meteorologists caution that there is a chance for the tropical pattern to become more active, especially around mid-August. Houstonians are advised to stay weather aware, as conditions could quickly shift, and to remember safety tips such as "turn around, don’t drown" when confronted with flooded roadways.
