Houston could see several 100-degree days next week

The tropical clouds and scattered showers from Bertha are fading, but they’re taking Houston’s brief break from the extreme heat with them. Next week’s forecast increasingly points toward multiple days of triple-digit temperatures.

After Thursday’s brush with tropical weather, Southeast Texas is settling back into a familiar summer pattern. High atmospheric pressure will strengthen over Texas through the weekend, shutting down rain chances and sending temperatures back toward 100 degrees before what could become Houston’s longest stretch of triple-digit heat this summer.

Friday marks the beginning of a much quieter stretch of weather across Southeast Texas. Aside from a stray shower or thunderstorm, sunshine will dominate as the remnants of Bertha move farther inland and high air pressure regains control of the forecast.

Afternoon temperatures will climb into the mid-90s Friday before nearing 100 degrees over the weekend. Overnight will remain warm — generally in the upper 70s to around 80 degrees — offering little opportunity to cool off before the sun returns Saturday morning.

Afternoon heat index values Friday are expected to reach 105 to 110 degrees. That’s just below the level that would trigger a heat advisory from the National Weather Service for now. The heat will still be dangerous, so try to avoid prolonged periods outdoors during the hottest part of the day.

Both the ECMWF weather forecast model, often called the European model, and the GFS weather forecast model, often called the American model, are signaling the same overall pattern: strengthening high pressure over Texas and an increasing likelihood of several consecutive days of triple-digit heat next week.

The European model keeps peak daytime temperatures around 100 to 101 degrees from Tuesday into next weekend, while the warmer GFS model shows temps reaching 100 degrees as early as Monday and peaking near 103 degrees late next week.

While the exact temperature outlook is likely to fluctuate, both forecast models point toward the same overall message: Houston is likely headed for its most prolonged stretch of triple-digit heat so far this summer.

If you’re hoping for another break like Bertha provided, you’ll likely have to wait. The weather through next week will be dominated by sunshine, dry weather and increasingly dangerous afternoon heat.