While this August was quite hot, it doesn’t compare to what Houston experienced last year. August 2023 included an average high temperature of 102.7 degrees. It was Houston’s hottest August ever and a whopping five degrees warmer than what we’re experiencing this year.

There are several reasons why this August was not as hot as last year. First, most of the high pressure systems this year were located several hundred miles west of Houston, keeping summer temperatures more comfortable. Last year, the high pressure system was located almost directly over southeast Texas, resulting in more extreme heat.

Additionally, Houston experienced very heavy rainfall last July, totaling 11 inches. This left the soil here relatively saturated in August, keeping temperatures a little lower than they otherwise would be.

The next few days will bring the hottest weather Houston has seen all year. Sunday morning will remain very warm, with lows only dropping to around 27 degrees. Still, early morning is the most pleasant time to be outside, as temperatures will be near 32 degrees by 10 a.m. and heat index readings will have already exceeded 38 degrees.

Temperatures will be around 35 degrees around midday and will continue to rise to 38 degrees by late afternoon. With dew points between 21 and 25 degrees, oppressive heat index values ​​of between 42 and 44 degrees are expected.

Scattered showers or light thunderstorms are possible in the afternoon, but overall the probability remains extremely low. Rain is only expected in 5 to 10% of the region.

As the center of the high pressure system shifts slightly eastward, temperatures are expected to rise a little higher on Monday. In the greater Houston area, highs will likely be between 101 and 102 degrees, while heat index values ​​will again rise above 110 degrees.

On Tuesday, temperatures of over 38 degrees are possible again throughout southeast Texas. After that, there is good news. The high pressure area is slowly moving west again, which will give us some cooling.

Maximum temperatures are expected to drop to 35-40 degrees by Wednesday and remain at 35 degrees until the end of the week. Minimum temperatures will drop slightly and drop back to 25 degrees by the end of the week.

Rain chances will also increase slightly, although no widespread heavy rain is expected. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible from Wednesday, and the chances will continue through Thursday and Friday. The daily chance is around 20-30%, so many areas will remain dry.