Houston woke up to a sticky, nearly clear Thursday morning, with temperatures already in the upper 70s and the air feeling like a wet blanket. As of about 5:35 a.m. CDT on Thursday, July 16, 2026, local observations showed readings near 79°F, dew points in the mid-70s, and humidity close to 89 percent. The morning commute should be mostly smooth, although pockets of wet weather are still on the table later in the day.
Afternoon Showers Possible
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms is expected mainly between noon and 4 p.m. Thursday, with a 20 percent probability and most areas seeing new rainfall amounts under a tenth of an inch, according to the NWS Houston/Galveston. Southeast winds around 5 to 10 mph will help steer any storms inland, and any downpours should be brief but could temporarily knock down visibility on surface streets.
Fog And The Morning Commute
Patchy fog and low clouds were possible overnight into Thursday morning north of I-10, with any fog expected to burn off by mid-morning. Travelers using smaller airports and drivers moving through low-lying areas should plan for reduced visibility before the sun has a chance to fully clear the low clouds.
Heat Returns This Weekend
Rain chances drop Friday into the weekend as drier air and building high pressure move in, sending daytime highs back into the low to mid 90s. The NWS Houston/Galveston also notes offshore southeast to south winds around 12 to 17 kt, roughly 14 to 20 mph, with seas of 3 to 4 ft. Friday's high is forecast near 93°F with heat index values up to about 101°F, and Saturday and Sunday look hotter still, with highs near 94 to 95°F.
Boaters And Cooling Resources
Boaters and beachgoers should expect an onshore chop through the weekend and should keep an eye on radar for gusty winds near any storm that pops up. If the heat becomes a concern, the City of Houston maintains listings of cooling centers and assistance, and residents can call 3-1-1 or visit the Houston Office of Emergency Management for locations and hours.
