Current Air Quality:
HOUSTON – Saharan Dust has moved into SE Texas. This is bringing hazy skies through the early part of the day Thursday. This also means we have reduced air quality which is dangerous for sensitive groups who suffer from respiratory problems (like asthma or emphysema). If you are in one of these groups we’d recommend spending as much time indoors as possible. Current air quality is below.
For more on the dust, check out this article here.
Thursday’s Forecast:
Thursday is the first day of August. For more on what to expect in August, check out this article on Houston’s August climatology. Aside from the Saharan Dust, we are going to be hot and humid. Afternoon temperatures climb to the mid-90s in Houston with a heat index of 108°. We’re not officially under a heat advisory, but be on the safe side and take caution in the hot, hot afternoon sun.
Why are we hot?
A high pressure system is making us hot. Triple-digit feels like temperatures continue to climb this week as a heat dome traps warm air over our area. This heats up the Gulf of Mexico bringing us more heat and humidity along with a lack of rain and a lot of sunshine. As long as this dome is in place, we’ll see very little in the way of rain chances and feels like numbers that will climb into the triple digits each day.
Heat alerts are in place to our north and east. If we hit a heat index of 108° consistently we’ll go under a heat advisory too.
Tracking the tropics:
There is a 60% chance of development with a tropical wave in the Atlantic over the next 7 days. The wave enters a zone with less Saharan Dust and weak wind shear, giving the wave a chance to develop. If it becomes a tropical storm it will become Debby.
As of today, most long range models appear to keep this system away from Texas as they’ll push the storm closer to the coast of Florida and the Carolinas. The high pressure system that is keeping us hot should help steer this storm away from us (should it form and enter the Gulf).
10-day Forecast:
We will be dry and hot as we enter August! Some rainfall is possible Sunday and Monday, but it’s only a limited chance. Most of the next 10 days will be dominated by heat and humidity. This is a much more typical summer pattern for us in Houston.
