Houston woke up Friday to a thick, sticky wall of air, with temperatures around 77°F and dew points stuck in the mid-70s. It feels every bit as muggy as that sounds. Mostly cloudy skies will help keep the lid on temperatures early, but showers and scattered thunderstorms are expected to build through the morning. Forecasters expect the busiest storm window around midday Friday, June 5, 2026, especially from late morning through early afternoon. A few of these storms could unleash very heavy downpours capable of quick street and yard flooding, which means a slow, splashy commute for many. Along the coast, strengthening onshore winds will also bring rougher surf and a growing rip current risk heading into the weekend.
Midday Downpours And Flash Flood Risk
Scattered to at times numerous storms are most likely to bubble up across the metro around the lunch hour, with the highest storm chances roughly between noon and 1 p.m. CDT. According to the NWS Houston/Galveston, the strongest cells could dump rain at rates of 3 to 4 inches per hour. That kind of rainfall can quickly stack up 1 to 3 or more inches in a short window and has prompted a marginal to slight risk of excessive rainfall for parts of Southeast Texas. Forecasters say the best shot at higher totals today is near and just east of I-45 and along the I-10 corridor, where some spots are already soggy from Thursday’s storms. Drivers should be prepared for sudden drops in visibility and fast ponding in low-lying lanes during the heaviest downpours.
Where Flooding Could Pop Up
The National Weather Service reports that the San Bernard River at East Bernard has risen into action stage and is expected to crest later Friday afternoon, which bumps up the odds of runoff issues and localized flooding downstream. Forecasts also flag eastern Harris County and western Chambers County as areas that could see another 3 or more inches of rain from repeated heavy cells. Neighborhoods that took the brunt of Thursday’s storms may see water rise and drain more quickly today. Residents near rivers, bayous, and creeks should keep an eye on local gauges and move vehicles off low streets when rain becomes persistent. For updated river levels and trends, check the regional NWS river pages.
Coast And Commute
Onshore winds are expected to tick up through the day and may reach 15 to 20 mph at times along the immediate coast, kicking up choppy seas and a higher rip current danger through the weekend. Boaters should steer clear of storms, and swimmers should follow the beach flag warnings, as rip current risk is set to steadily climb into Saturday and Sunday. Inland, commuters should be ready for sudden ponding along I-10, I-45, and other low-lying stretches. If you come across standing water, do not try to plow through it; turn around and find a different route. Afternoon temperatures will stay seasonally hot with highs in the mid-80s, and where sunshine peeks through, heat index values could push into the upper 90s.
What To Do
If you are heading out during the late morning or midday hours Friday, June 5, 2026, plan on extra travel time and bring a rain jacket or umbrella. Avoid driving through flooded roads and move valuables out of basements or ground-level storage if you are in a low-lying spot. Keep wireless alerts enabled and monitor updates. For context on the sticky pattern that kicked off the month, revisit our steam-bath start to June along with the latest National Weather Service forecasts. If water over roads becomes widespread, follow local emergency instructions and never try to cross fast-moving water. Small craft operators should use caution and consider staying in port until conditions calm down.
