Making special plans for Valentine’s Day?
HOUSTON – Well, you’ll want to arrange some of them indoors. Houston’s next cold front will move through Houston Saturday night.
While we desperately need the rain, Saturday’s cold front timing is not ideal for picnics, patio reservations, or whatever your nighttime plans are.
Early in the day, light rain is possible starting at 6 a.m., with scattered showers expected to increase between noon and 6 p.m. But it’s that prime evening window, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., when the most intense activity is likely.
Damaging winds are the number one concern with this upcoming line of storms. Straight line winds could reach 50 to 60 mph. The risk chart also shows an uptick in tornado potential, now at a medium threat, up from low from yesterday. Hail chances are slightly higher, but the size is expected to be small.
Lightning will be present, flood the threat is low. Rainfall totals around the Houston metro are likely to range from a half-inch up to an inch, with a bit less across the southwest edge of the region.
Louisiana is also expected to face a high risk, with even stronger storms and a greater potential for tornadoes as the main line pushes east overnight.
Timeline: What to expect hour by hour:
- 6 a.m. – noon: Light rain possible
- Noon – 6 p.m.: Showers increasing, chance for an isolated strong thunderstorm or two
- 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.: Main severe weather threat as the main storm line sweeps through the Houston area
- After 11 p.m.: Storms move east toward Galveston and Louisiana
The main line of storms begins to approach the Brazos valley starting around 6 PM to 7 PM.
Storms will continue to move southeast approaching Houston by 9 PM and the southeast side of town by 10 PM.
Storms will continue to approach our coastal communities and come to end around midnight.
Here is a closer look at Galveston for those headed to Mardi Gras:
There is a chance that Mardi Gras in Galveston may get all their parades in without any major disruptions. That’s not a promise but the chance is there. The parades start at 11:00 AM with a 20% chance of rain during the day. The concern is the Knights of Momus Grand Night Parade. That starts at 6:00 and there is a chance of an isolated strong thunderstorm forming. Galveston’s organized line of storms is forecast to arrive closer to 11 p.m. or midnight. Let’s hope that Mardi Gras plans not be affected in the evening, but people should still stay weather aware for any isolated storms.
The good news is that the storms are expected to clear out overnight, setting up a much nicer day on Sunday. Temperatures will reach the low to mid-70s, making for a pleasant finish to the weekend. Cooler mornings in the low to mid-50s are forecast for Monday and Tuesday, but then a warming trend kicks in. By Ash Wednesday and through the end of next week, highs could easily climb back into the low to mid-80s.
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