Houston’s Memorial Day is starting off like a walk into a steam room: clear skies, temperatures in the low 70s and very high humidity already hanging over the city. The National Weather Service is calling for a high near 87°F today with only a slight chance of afternoon showers. The bigger story is an Ozone Action Day and a potentially soggy storm system lining up for the middle of the week. Sensitive groups should take the ozone notice seriously, while anyone with outdoor plans will want to keep a close eye on the forecast.
Today and Tonight
Mostly sunny skies this morning are expected to give way to a chance of spotty showers and isolated thunderstorms after about 1 p.m., mainly inland. Most locations should only see brief downpours, with less than a tenth of an inch of rain where anything falls. Highs should reach around 87°F with light northeast winds of 0 to 5 mph and overnight lows near 72°F. It will feel stickier than the numbers suggest, with dew points sitting in the low 70s.
Storms Tuesday-Wednesday
A stronger system is set to arrive late Tuesday night, May 26, into Wednesday, May 27, and could bring widespread showers and thunderstorms along with localized heavy rain. Forecasters say model guidance points to general rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches, with some coastal pockets possibly picking up 3 to 5 inches, which raises the risk for localized flooding. Onshore winds are expected to increase Tuesday night ahead of the system, according to the National Weather Service. If you have travel or outdoor plans Tuesday night or Wednesday, build in extra time and stay alert for flash-flood statements.
Air Quality Alert
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has issued an Ozone Action Day for Houston, Galveston and Brazoria on Monday, May 25. Sunny, humid afternoons could push ozone levels into the unhealthy-for-sensitive-groups range. Elderly residents, people with asthma and anyone who is otherwise ozone-sensitive should limit prolonged outdoor exertion this afternoon and consider moving activities indoors, according to the TCEQ. Simple steps like cutting back on short car trips and avoiding idling can help take the edge off peak ozone levels later today.
Plan Ahead
For now, keep Memorial Day gatherings flexible. Have an indoor backup for cookouts and expect muggy conditions to stick around through the week. Check radar before heading out and consider alternate plans for anything scheduled Tuesday night into Wednesday in case heavy rain develops. Sign up for local alerts and follow official sources for the latest updates.
