Definition of a cold front:
HOUSTON – Next week on Monday, an upcoming cold front will bring some relief to our temperatures, with afternoon highs lowering to the 80s and morning lows dipping into the 60s. Now, I often hear from viewers when I call this a “cold front,” with some questioning whether a slight change like this really qualifies. Let’s clear that up: meteorologically, it absolutely is a cold front. A cold front is defined by a shift in wind direction that leads to lower temperatures. Even if the drop is only 5 degrees, it’s still a cold front! However, to avoid the emails, I refer fronts like Monday as a “cool front” or simply a “front.”
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Now, let’s define what a cold front means for us here in Houston.
Here is my definition: A wind shift that brings three straight days with highs in the 70s. Last year that happened October 14th-16th. In 2020 we got our first front in September!
If you’re worried that our recent string of hot temperatures means we won’t see cooler weather this month, here’s something to keep in mind: since 1964, we’ve always had at least one morning where temperatures dip below 54°F. So, there’s definitely hope on the horizon!
First low below:
Monday’s front will be our third of the season, but so far, the cool fronts we’ve experienced have only brought modest drops in temperatures—moving from the 90s down to the 80s in the afternoon, and from the 70s to the 60s in the mornings. However, the big difference we’ve all felt with the past two fronts has been the significant drop in humidity, giving us a handful of delightfully dry days. The lowest temperature we’ve seen so far from last week’s front was 64°F. Typically, by September 29th, we would have already dipped below 60°F, so we’re running a bit behind schedule this year. Historically, our first day below 50°F falls around October 21st, and we usually see our first morning below 40°F by November 15th.
The big cool down won’t come in the next 10-days:
The 10-day forecast shows no signs of temperatures dipping into the 70s or 50s just yet. However, based on our October averages, this is typically the month when we finally experience that cool down we’ve all been eagerly awaiting. Stay tuned—it’s coming!
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