Hottest week of summer, so far, has arrived

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The hottest week of summer (so far) has arrived with high temperatures staying in the upper 90s or even hitting 100 degrees each day this week.

Get ready for a steamy Monday! We started off today with temperatures in the upper 70s/low 80s and under mostly sunny skies, we should see high temperatures soar into the upper 90s. Heat index values could be closer to 104. An isolated shower or two will be possible this afternoon but most of us will stay dry.

Tell me about this week’s heat. Is it really going to be that hot?

Well, this week will likely be the hottest week of summer… so far. Wednesday and Thursday could even be record breaking heat days with high temperatures of 100 degrees. Highs will be in the upper 90s or even topping 100 degrees in the afternoon through Thursday of this week. Heat index values in the afternoon will range between 100 to 110 in the afternoon each day. Wednesday could be the hottest, which could even prompt our first Heat Advisory of summer to be issued, so you’ll want to remember your hot weather safety tips all week long. This heat arrives thanks to the combination of a big heat dome, ridge and surface high pressure over the gulf.

What are those hot weather safety tips again?

Remember to stay hydrated drinking plenty of water, wear sunscreen and use sun protection to cover your skin and avoid strenuous outdoor activities or exercising during the peak heating of the day, which is usually between 2 and 6 p.m. Be sure to take breaks in air conditioning too if you have to be out and about. Signs of heat exhaustion include nausea, sudden thirst, and heavy sweating and/or muscle weakness. This is when you want to act fast to avoid heat stroke. Speaking of, signs of heat stroke include those of heat exhaustion plus confusion and dizziness where you should act fast and call 911.

And what about those late week rain chances?

Rain chances slowly climb into the end of the week. This is as the heat dome moves on and we see the return of onshore flow from the gulf. All the while, higher levels of moisture swirl back into the gulf early this week. While it’s unlikely we see organized tropical development, showers and storms could bring heavy rains across the Gulf Coast beginning Tuesday in the east, lasting through Saturday to the west. For Southeast Texas, we could see these heavier, tropical downpours Friday and Saturday, but it’s only a 30% chance of that right now.

What’s happening in the tropics?

Pretty quiet in the tropics for now. There are two areas, one in the Atlantic and one in the Pacific, with low odds of developing. For a thorough update and in-depth video on what’s happening in the tropics, head to our tropical update page.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

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