Today will be a busy weather day. We’ll open warm, with rain chances increasing through the day and some potential for isolated to scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Once the front is through, winds will rapidly increase. Winds will be strong and gusty tonight, prompting a wind advisory and gale warning. These conditions will result in cold wind chills as well.
Winds – Winds will be moderate and out of the southeast this morning, and gradually turn through south to southwest. Once the front is through, winds will quickly becoming strong and northwesterly. At their peak tonight, look for sustained winds around 25 mph and gusts of 30-40 mph. A few gusts may reach as high as 45 mph. This has prompted a wind advisory from late this afternoon through at least the late night inland, and lingering until at least mid-day Friday near the coast.
Temperatures – We’ll begin the day warm, near normal high temperatures. High temperatures before the front arrives will range from the middle 60s north to the lower half of the 70s near the coast. Colder air will surge in after the front, with low temperatures late tonight and early Friday morning dropping to near or below freezing north of Houston. Wind chills for much of the area will fall to the upper teens and 20s late tonight. This is not cold enough for a wind chill advisory, but will still be pretty chilly and could be dangerous for people forced to spend extended periods outdoors without being dressed warmly enough.
Rain Chances – Patchy fog and drizzle this morning will turn to slowly increasing chances for showers ahead of the front. Showers will grow more numerous, and isolated to scattered thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon along the front. The best chance for thunderstorms will be near and east of I-45. Severe weather is not anticipated, but we can’t rule out the strongest storms creating some gusty winds or briefly heavy rainfall.
