HOUSTON – Sunday marked the Summer Solstice — the official start of summer and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Right on cue, Southeast Texas is settling into a much more typical summer weather pattern. After several days of widespread rain and storm chances, a strengthening ridge of high pressure will take control this week, bringing hotter temperatures, fewer clouds, and very limited opportunities for rainfall. The result will be a quieter forecast overall, but one that comes with increasing heat and humidity.
Tonight’s Forecast:
Expect another warm and muggy night across the Houston area. Skies will become partly cloudy overnight with temperatures only falling to around 79 degrees by daybreak. A steady south wind will continue to pull Gulf moisture inland, keeping humidity levels elevated and making for another “muggy and buggy” summer night. While a stray shower can’t be completely ruled out near the coast, most locations will remain dry.
Monday’s Forecast:
Monday will feel much more like late June in Southeast Texas. Sunshine will dominate through the afternoon with highs climbing into the low to mid-90s across much of the region. Houston is expected to reach around 94 to 95 degrees, while some inland communities could briefly touch the mid-90s.
The bigger story will be the heat index. Even though actual temperatures will remain in the 90s, the combination of heat and humidity will push “feels-like” temperatures as high as 105 to 107 degrees during the afternoon. South winds around 10 mph will offer only limited relief. Anyone spending extended time outdoors should stay hydrated, take frequent breaks, and avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day.
10-day forecast:
The overall weather pattern changes very little through the next 10 days. High pressure aloft will remain the dominant feature, keeping rain chances extremely low while allowing temperatures to stay above normal. Afternoon highs will generally range from 93 to 96 degrees through much of the week, with overnight lows only falling into the upper 70s and near 80 degrees.
While this won’t be an extreme heat wave by Houston standards, the lack of rainfall combined with several consecutive days of triple-digit heat indices will make for a prolonged stretch of summer heat. Most afternoons will feature heat index values between 103 and 108 degrees, and there may be isolated spots that briefly exceed those numbers. The best chance for any meaningful rain appears to remain beyond the 10-day forecast period, meaning Southeast Texas is likely in for an extended stretch of hot, mostly dry summer weather.
Staying safe in the heat
Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing if you do head outside, seek shade when possible, and check on elderly neighbors, young children, and pets. And never, under any circumstances, leave a person or animal alone in a closed car.
It takes only minutes for a car’s interior to reach life-threatening temperatures.