Saharan haze arrives late this weekend, rain chances return next week

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- We'll get to enjoy a bluer sky for most of the weekend, but starting late Sunday, a thick cloud of Saharan dust blows in. Thankfully this round of haze will only stick around for about a day, and we should get some haze relief early in July with the return of daily downpours.

Once again for Sunday it'll be a warm start to the day with temperatures in the upper 70s or low 80s. We've got plenty of sunshine on tap, allowing high temperatures to again reach the mid 90s with the peak heat index in the low 100s. And while we cant rule out a spot shower or storm, Sunday will be on the drier side, especially as the next wave of Saharan dust approaches the Texas coast.

What should I know about the Saharan dust moving in?

As expected, a thicker cloud of Saharan dust has made it's way into the gulf and is set to move over the Texas coast the latter half of Sunday. The Saharan haze will start turning the sky more gray Sunday afternoon, and it could be particularly noticeable by sunset. This dust cloud will be at it's thickest concentration Monday morning and throughout the day, which could lead to a reduction in air quality Monday with the particulate matter overhead. Saharan dust is an irritant, so those with underlying respiratory illnesses might was to use extra caution when doing any outdoor work or exercise that day. Thankfully it should disperse away from the region Tuesday.

What is the early weather outlook for July 4th?

It's looking like a fairly typical summer day with a low in the mid 70s, a high in the low 90s, and a 30% chance of a shower or storm popping up, mainly in the afternoon. In this type of pattern where the storm chance is driven by the heat of the day, we are usually rain-free for the evening, so we expect firework shows will be a go!

What are you tracking in the tropics?

With the large plume of thick Saharan dust moving through the Caribbean and Gulf this weekend, no tropical activity is expected in the short term for the Atlantic, but it's a different story for the Pacific. Visit our Tropical Update page for a more in-depth tropical weather discussion and forecast.

13 ALERT RADAR MAPS:
Southeast Texas
Houston
Harris County
Galveston County
Montgomery/Walker/San Jacinto/Polk/Grimes Counties
Fort Bend/Wharton/Colorado Counties
Brazoria/Matagorda Counties

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