Houston rolled out of bed Thursday into muggy, mostly cloudy skies, with temperatures already in the low 70s and humidity thick enough to feel like soup. A steady onshore flow off the Gulf is set to keep daytime highs near 80 through Friday and to spin up pockets of coastal fog for the morning commute. Drivers can expect reduced visibility on coastal routes and along bayous, so anyone heading out early should budget some extra time.
Foggy Mornings, Patchy Sea Fog
Warm, moist Gulf air sliding over cooler nearshore waters is a classic setup for sea fog along the immediate coast, and locally dense patches may hang on into the afternoon near Galveston and Matagorda. The best bet for more widespread fog is Thursday night into Friday morning, then again Friday night into Saturday morning, though spotty fog could pop up during other overnights this week. Beachgoers and boaters should be ready for delayed departures and slower travel on the water.
What To Expect This Week
Highs will stick near 80 on Thursday and Friday, with only a slight chance of brief afternoon showers. Any rain looks to stay isolated and mostly light. A cold front arrives Saturday, bringing gusty northerly winds and a noticeable cooldown for Sunday and Monday, when highs fall into the mid-60s and inland lows dip into the 40s.
Boaters Should Plan Around Strong Weekend Winds
The National Weather Service Houston/Galveston notes that the front could drive sustained winds around 20 to 25 kt (about 23 to 29 mph) with gusts over 30 kt (35+ mph) and open-Gulf seas building to 6 to 10 feet, conditions that often trigger Small Craft Advisories. Anyone with weekend plans on the water should consider postponing nonessential trips, keep running lights on when visibility drops, and keep a close eye on updates at the NWS page linked above.
Commute And Local Tips
On foggy mornings, drivers should stick with low-beam headlights, ease off the gas, and leave extra room between cars. Coastal businesses, freight operators, and mariners should be ready for possible delays and coordinate with port or carrier contacts if timing is critical.
This story updates our Tuesday's coverage of the warm, foggy pattern and adds fresh details on marine timing and small-craft concerns. For more on the recent warm spell and earlier fog episodes, see our earlier wake-up-in-a-fog report.
