Widespread storms will lose strength as temperatures rise to between 95 and 96 °F on Saturday and Sunday.
Houston will enter this weekend a drier and hotter period, with fewer storms and heat indices that could reach 104 °F during the hottest parts of the day.
Saturday will have a high near 95 °F, partly sunny skies and a heat index of up to 104 °F. Sunday will rise to around 96 °F, with more sun and little chance of widespread rain.
The change comes after several days with storms, rainfall accumulations, and temperatures lower than usual for July in parts of the metropolitan area.
Rain will be more isolated starting Friday
The chance of thunderstorms dropped to about 20% during the afternoon and early evening on Friday.
Any showers that arrive will be brief and localized, mainly associated with the sea breeze. Most neighborhoods could end the day without precipitation.
Saturday does not present a significant chance of rain in the main forecast for Houston Hobby Airport. Sunday is expected to be mostly sunny.
The reduction in storms will allow streets, yards, and saturated ground to begin drying after the rainfall accumulated during the week.
The heat index will reach about 104 °F
Moisture from the Gulf will keep the heat index above the actual air temperature.
For Saturday, the National Weather Service projects a high near 95 °F and heat index values up to 104 °F in Houston.
Sunday could reach 96 °F. Nighttime temperatures will stay between 75 and 78 °F, so relief after sunset will be limited.
The combination of heat and humidity raises the risk of heat exhaustion during prolonged outdoor activities, especially in the afternoon hours.
Related: Weather for today in Houston: daily forecast and temperatures
The heat will continue to rise next week
Temperatures will continue to rise after the weekend.
Monday could reach 98 °F. For Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the forecast calls for highs near 99 °F, with mostly clear skies.
The National Weather Service office in Houston/Galveston anticipates heat indices between 100 and 107 °F as high pressure strengthens over Southeast Texas.
The Climate Prediction Center also maintains an elevated risk of extreme heat for parts of Texas and the Gulf Coast between July 24 and 30.
The flood risk is low, but not completely gone
The threat of widespread flooding diminished with the departure of the pattern that produced repeated rain throughout the week.
Isolated storms capable of producing brief downpours can still form, especially near the coast and as the sea breeze advances.
Houston was at 91 °F at 12:53 p.m. on Friday, with a heat index of 99 °F at Hobby Airport. The high for the afternoon was expected to be 94 °F, with a heat index up to 104 °F.
The National Weather Service forecast for Houston is updated throughout the day at weather.gov/hgx.
Saturday’s high will be near 95 °F and Sunday’s around 96 °F before the heat increases even more as the new week begins.
