Haze impacting air quality today, strong storms possible Thursday and Mother's Day
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- It's another hazy, steamy afternoon, but our main focus is looking ahead to thunderstorm chances on Thursday and now Mother's Day.
It is a hazy and steamy day in southeast Texas. The smoky haze from Mexico and Central America is causing issues with our air quality today. Sunshine emerging between the clouds and haze this afternoon is warming temperatures into the upper 80s. Because of all the humidity, it will again feel close to 100 degrees during much of the afternoon.
Why do you have the Weather Watch posted for Thursday?
We are expecting the atmosphere to become very unstable on Thursday, right as the jet stream pushes the storm track back over us. While there is a fair chance the "cap" of stable air aloft could prevent thunderstorms from forming, if the storms do form, they will quickly turn severe with severe winds, hail, and even a tornado possible. Stay weather-aware while we sort out the details over the next few days, as May is historically the peak of our spring severe weather season.
Are there any more cool fronts coming ahead of summer?
We have a weak one penciled in for Friday! You can expect a delightful drop in the humidity for Friday and most of Saturday. Highs will still warm into the 80s, but morning lows will be closer to seasonal averages in the mid-60s. Unfortunately, the drier air won't stick around for the entire weekend, and by Saturday evening, rain could be returning to Southeast Texas.
Is Mother's Day going to be a washout?
It's possible, but confidence in any details is still low at this time. The weather pattern will feature a slow-moving upper air storm interacting with a warm front moving in from the Gulf of Mexico, so there is the potential for both heavy rainfall and severe weather. If you have any outdoor plans for Mother's Day, you might want to draw up a plan B just in case while we sort out the details.
13 ALERT RADAR MAPS:
Montgomery/Walker/San Jacinto/Polk/Grimes Counties
Fort Bend/Wharton/Colorado Counties
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