Residents in Houston brace for another burst of extreme heat as temperatures flirt with the century mark. According to the National Weather Service, there's a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms today, mostly after 4 p.m., with a high near 97 degrees. Heat index values might soar as high as 105, making for a combustible mixture of heat and possible precipitation this afternoon.
The scorching conditions come under the presence of a ridge of high pressure that's smothered the southern half of the United States, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. Despite the possibility for downpours, the "heat dome" maintains its grip, driving temperatures up to nearly 100 degrees this afternoon. Houstonians, accustomed to heat but perhaps not this intensified, are reminded of the continual need for heat safety.
Even as the oppressive heat looms, the city anticipates a change in weather patterns. The high pressure is expected to retreat toward the Four Corners region later in the week. Yet until that respite arrives, Houston remains ensnared in an atmosphere that could see heat index values between 105 and 107 degrees, as per a report by the Houston Chronicle. The heat index could make it feel nearly 115 degrees for those under direct sunlight without the relief of shade.
Overnight, showers and thunderstorms remain possible, with similar conditions expected tomorrow as the National Weather Service forecasts a 60 percent chance of precipitation. Partly sunny skies will accompany a high near 94 degrees. And, while the city waits, Hurricane Erin draws nearer to the Turks and Caicos and the southeastern Bahamas, with eyes set on its next move.
The remainder of the week promises a partly sunny climate punctuated by a daily dance with showers and thunderstorms. New rainfall amounts might be modest, less than a tenth of an inch, yet higher amounts could accompany thunderstorms, as mentioned by the National Weather Service. Come nightfall, temperatures should dip into the low 80s, offering a slight, but perhaps imperceptible, retreat from the day's fervor.
