HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The high temperature reached 102 degrees again on Wednesday, tying with Tuesday for the hottest day of 2024 in Houston. Thankfully, high temperatures will slowly trend down over the next several days, but a Heat Advisory continues through 10 p.m. Thursday. The heat index is expected to peak between 108 to 112 degrees.
Temperatures Thursday morning will start off in the low 80s over Houston, and with that warm start, it won’t take much sunshine to push the temperature back into the mid-90s by noon. Highs will peak around 100. There is also a 20% chance for a late afternoon or early evening downpour as the sea breeze front blows in from the Gulf of Mexico.
We will also be watching air quality sensors for the possibility of unhealthy levels of ozone.
How long will this heat wave last?
We predict temperatures will drop back down to “normal” by early next week with highs in the middle 90s. However, this week and this weekend will continue to be dangerously hot.
What about any rain for Houston?
It is slim to none through the weekend, but after the weekend, we’re eyeing a low-pressure disturbance coming in from the Gulf of Mexico. This low has non-tropical origins, but it could still spin up some healthy downpours. Right now, we have a chance of rain climbing to 30% on Monday and 40% next Tuesday through Thursday. There is a remote chance this disturbance could eventually develop into a tropical depression or storm, but either way, it should send some rain into the Texas coastline.
What are you tracking in the tropics?
Aside from the disturbance in the Gulf early next week, we are also monitoring tropical waves about to emerge from Africa that could spin up ahead of Labor Day weekend somewhere over the Atlantic or Caribbean. Head to our daily Tropical Update page for the latest on what’s happening in the tropics.