Houstonians woke up to a brisk and frosty Martin Luther King Jr. Day morning, with early temperatures conducive not to celebrations, but to the humble contemplation that so often accompanies the cold. However, as reported by the National Weather Service, the day was expected to warm to a comfortable 65 degrees, a testament to the ever-battling forces of cold and warmth that sketch the contours of a Houston winter.
With the sun's ascent, both revelers, and performers at the city’s annual MLK Unity Parade saw the day shed its cooler start for more temperate climates. "If you are a performer in the parade, bundle up because temperatures won't reach the 60s until noon," was the practical advice from a FOX 26 Houston weather report, a reminder that the comforts afforded by the afternoon sun are only enjoyed after the passage through morning's chill.
Looking ahead, Houston is not quite done with its winter dance. Tuesday promised partly sunny skies and a high near 62 degrees, but the serene, clear skies are not to hold. By the week's center, the forecast points to a return of showers, a shift from the clarity that Monday's observance enjoyed. Wednesday ushers in an 80% chance of precipitation, with showers expected to persist through the night.
Rainfall is a certainty as the week progresses, heralding a return to the clouds and umbilical wetness that so often typifies the Gulf Coast's brand of winter. "While timing and coverage remain uncertain, rainfall will be likely after several dry days," suggested FOX 26 Houston. The certainty of rain is as much a part of life here as the sporadic sunshine, though its return after days of dryness is as welcome or unwelcome as each individual's take on the weather's ebb and flow.
The remainder of the week will carry us through an atmosphere thick with cloud cover, highs creeping into the upper 60s, and lows hovering in the comfortable 50s. The chance for showers stands as a continuing theme marking time's passage, with drier intervals providing fleeting relief. Friday and Saturday will particularly see a 50 percent chance of rainfall, signaling that umbrellas and raincoats should remain close at hand for Houston's residents.
