Houston rolled out of bed Thursday into a warm, soupy start, with temps hovering near 72°F and humidity stuck in the high 80s. Along the coast, low clouds and patches of sea fog turned the morning into a gray blur that could slow early commutes, while inland neighborhoods are on track to warm into the low 80s by afternoon. Southeast winds will strengthen through the day, with gusts in the 20 to 25 mph range adding some extra swagger to those palm trees, as reported by the National Weather Service.
Foggy Mornings And Marine Advisories
The National Weather Service in Houston/Galveston has issued a Dense Fog Advisory for the upper Galveston Bay and nearby nearshore Gulf waters through 10 a.m. CST Thursday, with visibility dropping to a quarter mile or less in some spots, according to the National Weather Service Houston/Galveston. Boaters and ferry operators are urged to hold off on nonessential trips, and drivers on coastal bridges and along low-lying bayou corridors should stick to low beams, slow it down, and pad in some extra commute time.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
By Thursday afternoon and again Friday, southeast winds of 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph will make things feel noticeably breezy. Highs are expected in the low to mid 80s, around 82 to 83°F, which is on the warm side for early March. A few isolated showers could pop up Friday afternoon, and any storm that does manage to fire could bring a quick punch of gusty wind.
Weekend Rain Threat And Drought Concerns
A frontal boundary is expected to stall near Southeast Texas Saturday into Sunday, boosting the odds for showers and thunderstorms and making widespread rain more likely than earlier projections suggested. Some storms could unload heavy, localized downpours, and with much of Southeast Texas stuck in severe to extreme drought, the parched soils can send water running off quickly. That setup increases the risk for spotty urban or poor-drainage flooding in the usual trouble spots.
Plan Ahead
Coastal and bay-area commuters should build in extra time for foggy early drives, and anyone heading out on the water should check marine advisories before leaving the dock. We first flagged this warm, foggy pattern in our foggy bay wake-up earlier this week. Keep an eye on the latest updates from NWS Houston/Galveston as the weekend storm chance takes shape.
