At 5:40 a.m. CDT on Thursday, March 12, 2026, downtown Houston was mostly clear and sitting near 52°F as a cold front that pushed offshore overnight left a stiff northerly breeze behind. That chill wind will hang around through the morning, with the strongest gusts lined up for Galveston Bay and the coast, so commuters and coastal residents should expect a breezy to outright windy start to the day.
Winds and Marine Hazards
A Gale Warning remains in effect for the coastal Gulf waters and a Wind Advisory covers parts of the metro through this morning, according to the National Weather Service. North winds are expected to run generally 15 to 25 mph with inland gusts to around 35 mph and stronger gusts near the coast and over the bays, locally 40 to 45 mph. That combination will make conditions hazardous for small craft and pose a risk to high-profile vehicles.
The National Weather Service also notes rough seas of 6 to 10 feet offshore and the potential for lower-than-normal tide levels around the early Thursday low tide. Mariners should secure boats and avoid exposed passages until conditions ease.
What To Expect This Week
Thursday will be cool and sunny with a high near 66°F, with winds gradually easing through the afternoon. Overnight lows should dip back into the upper 40s.
A warmer stretch follows, with highs near 73°F on Friday, upper 70s on Saturday and into the low to mid 80s by Sunday. Another cold front arrives Sunday night and may squeeze out a slight chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms from late Sunday into Monday. If you have outdoor plans, Friday and Saturday still look like the sweetest spots before that late-weekend front noses in.
Local Context And Preparedness
Utilities and emergency crews were already staging for possible outages after Wednesday’s line of storms, with CenterPoint crews pre-positioned across the region, as reported when the utility flooded the city with storm crews. Officials are reminding residents to assume all downed lines are energized and to report outages through utility portals rather than getting anywhere near damaged equipment.
With winds strongest near the coast, residents are urged to secure loose outdoor furniture and avoid driving high-profile vehicles on exposed east–west corridors while gusts are peaking.
Quick Safety Tips
Bring in potted plants, tie down lightweight outdoor items and double-check tarps on trailers tonight. Drivers should reduce speed, leave extra following distance and treat highways near open bays with added caution during gusty periods. Keep phone alerts turned on and monitor local media for updates on advisories and power restoration.
