This has been a bizarre winter for Texas typically, and Houston specifically. Usually, throughout a La Niña winter, we see hotter and drier than regular situations. We’ve got checked the field for heat—December was about 2 levels above regular, and January goes to wind up about 5 levels above regular. However as for rainfall, this winter has been something however regular. Some areas of Houston have exceeded their regular allotment of rain for December, January, and February simply over the last 10 days.
These 10-day rain totals are recapped beneath, and occurred courtesy of chilly fronts tapping into deep Gulf moisture after heat spells. This accrued rainfall introduced some bayous and waterways in northwest Houston to close bankfull on Sunday. Though we’re going to stay in a moist interval by Thursday, I don’t assume we’ll see sufficient heavy rainfall to trigger the general scenario to alter. That’s to say, our soils will stay waterlogged, however I don’t anticipate any widespread flooding. Some clearing will lastly come Thursday night time.
Chilly and Ice in Central and Northern Texas
The opposite massive story this morning is the chilly. When you’ll recall final week we waffled loads on whether or not a entrance was going to push all the best way into Houston. Effectively, this shallow Arctic entrance made it all of it the best way to the coast, and consequently we’re going to be chilly all week, with highs typically within the 40s to 50s, and lows within the 40s. That is a lot colder than we anticipated even a few days in the past. That’s the finish of the story for Houston, however for areas simply to our north and west there’s a slightly nasty ice storm unfolding.
In areas similar to Burleson, Brazos and Washington counties a lightweight glaze of ice is feasible on the roads right this moment and tonight. Additional away from the coast in Texas, important icing is predicted in locations similar to Austin and Dallas, from now by the center of the day on Wednesday. This may significantly influence journey to and round these areas, and should trigger critical energy outages as ice accumulates on energy traces. Areas that fall beneath this winter storm warning are proven in pink within the map beneath.
Monday
Again in Houston, we’re going to see a cold, grey day with scattered (largely mild) showers right this moment because the chilly air mass strikes into Houston. Temperatures later right this moment will vary from the higher 40s for inland areas to decrease 50s near the coast. No journey points are anticipated within the Houston metro space from the scattered precipitation, however will probably be chilly, with a northerly wind at about 10 mph. Low temperatures tonight drop to the low 40s in Houston, with higher 30s doable for inland areas.
Tuesday
This will probably be one other chilly and grey day with excessive temperatures typically within the higher 40s. We are going to once more see respectable rain possibilities, about 40 p.c, with largely mild to reasonable showers. Lows will drop to round 40 levels on Tuesday night time, with blustery northerly winds at 10 to fifteen mph, and better gusts.
Wednesday and Thursday
The environment will turn into extra perturbed by the center of the week, with a number of disturbances shifting by forward of one other chilly entrance. The underside line is that these, too, will probably be chilly and grey days with excessive temperatures of about 50 levels, and lows within the 40s. Nevertheless, rain possibilities will probably be higher, particularly in the course of the Wednesday night time interval. Though I don’t count on flooding points to happen, areas north of Interstate 10 might choose up a further 1 to 2 inches of rainfall by Thursday of this week, with 0.5 to 1.5 inches for areas south of the freeway. Rain possibilities ought to lastly begin to ebb by Thursday afternoon as the following entrance strikes by to clear us out.
Friday
Behold, the Solar does exist! We’ll see it on Friday, with largely sunny skies and excessive temperatures within the higher 50s. Nevertheless these clearing skies can even enable for colder temperatures on Friday night time. Lows will drop into the 30s, in all probability, with the potential for a lightweight freeze for inland areas. We’ll see.
Saturday, Sunday, and past
This weekend seems to see largely sunny skies, with highs within the 60s. Sure, my buddies, a sunny weekend. It needs to be one thing. We’ll be on the beginning of a warming pattern by Sunday, with highs climbing into the low 70s by the early a part of subsequent week.
