Houston heat index values, or humidity-driven “feels like” temperatures, will soar into the triple digits by 3 p.m. Friday across Southeast Texas, according to the National Blend of Models, a composite weather forecast model.
National Blend of Models/Pivotal Weather
Southeast Texas on Friday can expect another day of peak heat index values reaching 100 to 110 degrees, or 38 to 43 degrees Celsius for our visiting World Cup fans, according to the National Weather Service. Heat safety should be a priority over the next several days, forecasters said.
Houston on Friday will be sunny, with afternoon temperatures hitting 95 degrees. Heat index values, or humidity-driven “feels like” temperatures, could be as high as 104.
“Heat continues to be the main talking point for the region,” the weather service said in a forecast bulletin posted online Thursday.
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Forecasters are especially focused on this weekend, which they noted would be drawing usually large crowds outdoors because it is doubling as a milestone Fourth of July holiday for Americans and a World Cup match day for international visitors.
“Consideration for a heat advisory will need to be maintained,” the weather service said. “If you plan to spend the day outdoors, make sure you wear light clothes, apply sunscreen and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Also take plenty of breaks from the heat by seeking shade/AC.”
On hot days, we rely on the evaporation of sweat from our skin to cool down. The heat index takes into account how high humidity makes that evaporation less efficient and, in turn, gives a more accurate description of the heat the body experiences, according to the weather service.
Because your body’s ability to cool down is compromised, the potent combination of excessive humidity and extreme heat can raise core body temperatures to dangerous levels. You risk heat exhaustion or heatstroke if you don’t take adequate precautions for the heat.
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Independence Day on Saturday in Houston is shaping up to be sunny, with temperatures inching closer to 100 with a high near 96. Meanwhile, humidity will make that temperature feel 10 degrees hotter and more like 106.
At night, firework shows across Southeast Texas also should be good to go without any weather-related interference, as mostly clear skies are expected.
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“Resulting heat stress on the human body is forecasted to be high (level 3 of 4), reaching extreme (level 4 of 4) in a few isolated spots,” the weather service said. “In laymen’s terms, it’ll feel warmer than the typical summer days as of recent, though not dramatically different.”
Rain chances return to the forecast, though, as early as Sunday, when Houston has a slight 20% chance of showers in the afternoon.
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Although Houston on Monday has a roughly 30% rain chance on an otherwise mostly sunny day, temperatures are still expected to reach 94 with a heat index near 105.
“Regardless of whether or not a heat advisory is issued, it would still be wise to practice heat safety,” the weather service said. “If you plan to spend the day outdoors, make sure you wear light clothes, apply sunscreen and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.”
Forecasters added that heat, despite being the top weather-related killer in the United States each year, is often underestimated as a public health threat.
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“Even if the heat isn’t advisory-strength, more people outside means that more cases of heat illnesses will likely emerge as a result,” the weather service said.