Heat warning extended through Friday in Houston due to power outages

Live Radar:

Storms are starting to form along parts of the coast this morning. We expect to see more storms forming inland by this afternoon and they will look very similar to yesterday’s. Take a look at our current radar below.

Friday forecast:

Friday afternoon will be hot and humid with highs around 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Add in the humidity and you’ll feel temperatures in the triple digits. A heat alert is in effect until 9 p.m. for much of the region. Be careful when cleaning outside. Listen to your body and take breaks in the shade. Drink water. If you need help cooling down, cooling centers are activated throughout Houston.

When will major relief come?

Unfortunately, it’s mid-July in Houston, so any long-term relief won’t come until October, when we typically get our first real cold front of the fall. Our average highs don’t drop below 90 degrees until late September. The only chance of cooling is a sea breeze thunderstorm. These are isolated and short-lived. But they’re better than being hot all day.

In the footsteps of the tropics:

There is no tropical activity in the Gulf, Caribbean or Atlantic Ocean. The only place to watch is a cluster of storms off the coast of northern Florida. The threat of these storms developing into Debbies is now almost zero.

Another factor keeping the tropics calm is the presence of huge Saharan dust patches which help to smother any development of tropical waves at this point.

10 day forecast:

For those without power, it will be very uncomfortable until the power comes back on. The chance of rain increases a bit over the next few days, which could bring some relief, but the humidity won’t go away. Otherwise, we’re looking at more intense summer heat and more drying conditions next week.