It's a dry start to the week with Saharan haze before rain chances return into next weekend

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- It's a hot and hazy start to the week before rain chances slowly climb into the holiday weekend.

It'll stay warm Sunday night with temperatures falling into the upper 70s overnight. You might also notice that the sky will look a little hazier at sunset. This is as Saharan dust moves into Southeast Texas and lingers throughout the day Monday. Monday then will be another sunny and hot day with afternoon highs climbing into the low-mid 90s under a hazy sky. The afternoon heat index Monday will range between 100 and 106.

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-mid 90s and a 30% chance of a shower or storm popping up, mainly in the afternoon. The heat index Saturday will also make it feel like 106 outside during 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 Gulf Coast early this week and there's a region to watch off the east coast of the Carolinas. 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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