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<\/a>Map of current larger wildfires, with a large number ongoing from New Mexico and Colorado back through Nevada. (NASA)<\/p>\nThis acrid looking mix of smoke, dust, and haze will persist through the weekend, only accentuated by a burst of Saharan dust by later Sunday or Monday<\/a>.<\/p>\n Today & weekend<\/p>\n Not a whole lot of change in things expected here, with sun, heat, humidity, and haze. Saharan dust thickens up a bit as Sunday progresses. Shower chances are minimal. That\u2019s about it. We\u2019ll keep it simple today.<\/p>\n Next week<\/p>\n As we head into Monday and Tuesday, a sprawling area of upper-level high pressure is going to establish itself over the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys, bringing a pretty hefty heat wave to parts of the Midwest, Mid-South, and East Coast. Houston will be positioned on the southwest periphery of that high pressure. For us, that does a couple things. <\/p>\n First, it should open the door to the Gulf a bit. This will allow for the typical splash and dash summer thunderstorms we get here in Houston to re-enter the picture by Tuesday or Wednesday. Second, it will allow for the Saharan dust plume to blow into the area early in the week. Smoke from the western wildfires should hopefully diminish some. Also, it means that if any tropical waves enter the Gulf, they could be pointed toward the Gulf Coast. By Wednesday or Thursday, that\u2019s a possibility, and although development of any significance is not expected, it could help nudge up our rain chances a little for the middle to end of the week. Or it could mostly end up in Louisiana. Both are reasonable potential outcomes. We\u2019ll watch this weekend to see how things go.<\/p>\n Either way, by our 250th birthday next weekend, we\u2019ll probably see that Gulf connection back off a bit as high pressure shifts out of the Midwest, with somewhat hotter, drier weather returning to Texas.<\/p>\n Drought update<\/p>\n The rains of late have definitely done wonders for our drought situation in Texas. Most of the state is now free of drought, with the notable exception of the Panhandle and portions of northeast and interior central and south Texas. The last time the majority of Texas was free of \u201cabnormally dry\u201d or worse conditions was September of last year.<\/p>\n<\/a>The upper atmosphere setup early next week. (Tropical Tidbits)<\/p>\n