The pollen, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind

Houston is in the midst of what will probably be its last sustained stretch of “chilly” weather this spring, with two more nights dropping into the upper 40s or lower 50s, before a warmup on Saturday. Also, pollen remains a distinct issue. Likely in response to fairly strong winds, Wednesday’s count was the highest of the season so far, particularly for oak trees. We’re nearing the end of tree pollen season, but it certainly is going out with a bang, and there will be more in the air today with gusty winds continuing.

Thursday

Temperatures are generally in the 50s this morning, and with sunny skies we’ll see highs climb into the mid-70s this afternoon. Winds will be noticeable again this afternoon, gusting to 25 mph, and leading to “red flag” conditions across the area, which occur when there is dry air and high winds. Please avoid fire-related activities today, until about 7 pm tonight. Winds will slacken after sunset, and overnight lows should be a few degrees cooler than Wednesday night. This probably will be our coldest night until at least October.

Friday

This will be a day a lot like Thursday, with ample sunshine, highs in the 70s, and a persistent northerly wind. Clear skies and dying winds should help Friday night’s lows once again fall to around 50 degrees in Houston, with cooler conditions for outlying areas.

Saturday

Winds will turn easterly on Saturday, at 10 to 15 mph, and this will help highs nudge into the lower 80s. Skies should still be sunny, however, and the air will remain fairly dry. Lows Saturday night will only drop into the low 60s for most areas.

Sunday

As moisture levels continue to rise, we should see the development of some clouds on Sunday, with highs probably slotting into the low 80s. Overnight temperatures may not drop below 70 degrees in the city on Sunday night.

Next week

The forecast for next week remains somewhat muddled. What I think we can count on is fair amount of clouds, and highs in the 80s, with a decent amount of humidity. There will be some rain chances by Monday and Tuesday, but right now there’s no definitive spark for storms or widespread showers, although that could change. Some kind of front is likely to move through later in the week, but there’s no certainty on how much oomph it will bring in terms of dry air and cooling. So if you like your nights chilly, enjoy the next two.