Houston residents can briefly enjoy cooler temperatures at the start of this week, following a weak cold front that moved through the area over the weekend. The front has brought down the humidity significantly, providing a small window of what the city might call a fall-like feel. According to the National Weather Service, Today, "Sunny, with a high near 87. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph." As the week progresses, however, temperatures are expected to gradually climb back into the typical Houston 90s.
The brief reprieve from higher heat is marked by dew points expected to drop into the upper 50s, which should make the actual air temperature feel a bit cooler than it is. "Instead of an air temperature of 89 degrees feeling like 93 degrees, it could feel more like 86 or 87 degrees thanks to the dry air," noted a report from the Houston Chronicle. This departure from the city's typical high levels of humidity will likely to be short-lived as the ridge of high pressure begins to build overhead throughout the week.
The warming trend promises to steadily increase each day. Tuesday "Sunny, with a high near 88. Northeast wind around 5 mph," forecasts the National Weather Service, setting up for a week that sees daily temperatures rising bit by bit. The Houston Chronicle adds that by "Wednesday's forecast high of 93 is just one degree above the normal high for early September, with a high of around 95 degrees expected by Thursday." The warmth is expected to persist into the upcoming weekend, with few chances for rain to offer any relief.
Concerning the tropics, the National Hurricane Center reports minimal activity expected in the coming week. "The short answer to this question is, 'not much.'" With several tropical waves in the Atlantic basin, there's nothing at the moment that should raise alarms for Gulf Coast residents. "The National Hurricane Center does not anticipate tropical development over the next week or so, when activity in the Atlantic basin usually peaks," the Houston Chronicle explains. This quiet pattern precedes the usual mid-October wind down of the hurricane season, which officially lasts through November.
