The 30-plus-degree drop in temperatures from Sunday’s high of 84 to the lower 50's Monday morning have been a shock to our systems, to say the least. Houston’s run-in with colder weather won’t last long, though. By the end of the work week, only two days into the new year, temperatures are expected to climb back toward 80 degrees.
Is La Niña responsible for this winter’s indecisive weather so far?
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Light freeze possible Tuesday night
Tuesday morning started on a cold note. Most neighborhoods across Southeast Texas dropped into the 30s, with mid-30s mainly confined to spots along and north of Interstate 10.
Mostly cloudy skies should give way to brilliant sunshine by the afternoon, but with temperatures peaking only near 55 degrees. Lighter northerly winds will keep the cold around one more night.
A light freeze will be possible under clear skies and calm winds for those in suburban Houston communities like Katy and The Woodlands. Even areas south of Houston, like Angleton and Sugar Land, could see morning temps drop to freezing (32 degrees) or slightly lower.
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Will this be the kind of freeze that causes burst pipes? Probably not, but an ounce of prevention certainly wouldn’t hurt if you’re unsure about your plumbing situation. Plants, on the other hand, will need to be covered or brought inside, particularly if they’re susceptible to cold weather.
If you’re missing last week’s warmth, you’ll hopefully take comfort in knowing that the new year ushers in temperatures well above normal.
New Year, same winter warmth
A wind shift introduces warmer weather to Houston by New Year’s Day, even if that warmth likely won’t be felt at midnight with temperatures in the mid-40s. You may not need a coat if you’re sporting a tuxedo, but you’ll probably want something to cover up with if you’re donning a cocktail party dress.
After fireworks are set off and the bubbly has been poured and the morning hangover, Houston’s afternoon temperatures will reach 73 degrees Thursday. It’ll get even warmer Friday as temperatures top out near 80 degrees.
A weak cold front is expected to approach Southeast Texas late Friday into Saturday, though temperatures are expected to remain quite mild. The cold start to this week fits perfectly with the pattern that’s dominated Houston weather so far this winter: Sharp temperature drops don’t last long.
What role does La Niña play?
La Niña, which first emerged during the fall, occurs when waters near the equator in the eastern Pacific become cooler than normal. That major transfer of heat in the world’s largest ocean can influence weather patterns worldwide, including winter temperature swings in Texas.
TEXAS WINTER: La Niña could bring another warm, dry winter to Houston and Texas. Here’s what we know.
Texas often experiences warmer and drier weather during La Niña winters, though cold outbreaks can still occur, sometimes abruptly. A notable example: the 2020-21 La Niña winter started relatively mild in Houston but ended with the devastating statewide February freeze — a reminder that even warm-leaning La Niña patterns can still produce extreme cold.
Looking nationally at temperature patterns since Dec. 1, a La Niña footprint is evident. Above-normal warmth stretches from the West Coast to Florida, while cooler weather has largely been confined to the Great Lakes, the mid-Atlantic states and New England.
La Niña is expected to continue through the next month or two before transitioning to a more neutral state, which is when sea-surface temperatures return to normal. Until then, continue to expect above-normal warmth broken up by periodic, yet brief, blasts of cooler air.
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