Houston could tie or crack with record temperatures in the short term. Thursday’s forecast is a high of 88; that day’s record is 88, set in 1942.
On Friday, a similar tune with a high of 88 and a record of 88 set in 2008.
So what is bringing in the push of hot air?
West Texas is experiencing a push of hot and dry air as a ridge of high pressure builds Thursday behind a cold front late Wednesday night.
This set-up generally looks like this: warm westerly winds transport hot and dry air into SE Texas, a process called warm air advection.
Typically, hot, dry air can heat up very efficiently; therefore, often, our afternoon highs can surpass the projected numbers and, in this week’s case, push us into an early summer feel by the end of the week!
The warm, dry winds also cause an increase in fire danger across West Texas.
On Thursday, sunshine and Houston’s surface winds turn more southerly, amplifying warming. Be ready to sweat. While Houston reaches the upper 80s, some communities might reach the low 90s!
