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<\/a>A forecast radar from the HRRR model as of 10 PM this evening. Will these storms survive the trip south?<\/p>\nEmphasis on \u201ca little.\u201d Whatever the case, as Andy Dufresne reminded us \u201cHope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.\u201d Speaking of\u2026<\/p>\n
Weekend<\/p>\n
Both Saturday and Sunday should be scorchers. Expect highs around 100 to 103 and a Super Mario 2 sun<\/a>. But Saturday has a little interestingness to it, with a chance that a few isolated thunderstorms pop up across interior Texas and drift southward toward the area. I\u2019m skeptical any of those will make it to Houston, but I suppose someone, particularly north of Houston could see a mercifully cooling downpour on Saturday afternoon or evening. Maybe even a few folks! Probably not Sunday though.<\/p>\n Next week<\/p>\n High pressure peaks over Texas this weekend and then begins a retreat back into the Desert Southwest next week. There usually is no on-off switch in Texas August though, and in this case, the high pressure system should remain close enough to keep us hot but maybe not to the levels we see this weekend. As Eric rightfully noted yesterday, there are (were?) some models trying to pull back a good bit on the heat toward the very end of the month, but it seems like those model runs may have been aberrations.<\/p>\n The region is fully highlighted in risk for \u201cextreme heat\u201d through the end of August, and although temps may \u201conly\u201d be upper-90s to near 100, the compounding effect of strong August heat can begin to wear on you after a while, so be sure to try to keep cool. And think about conserving energy where you are able. Which brings us to a word on that from our partners at Reliant.<\/p>\n A message from Reliant<\/p>\n We\u2019re entering the stretch of summer where the forecast is often the same day after day: HOT. When temperatures are high, air conditioners have to work harder to keep homes cools. Reliant is helping Houstonians save money and cut back on energy use while still staying comfortable this summer with the following tips:<\/p>\n Follow the \u201cfour-by-four\u201d principle\u00a0instead of turning off your HVAC system completely. Set your thermostat four degrees higher when you\u2019re away from home for more than four hours to reduce electricity usage while staying efficient upon your return home.<\/p>\n Leverage smart thermostats and\u00a0smart home devices<\/a>,\u00a0which are powerful tools to manage energy usage while away and optimize schedules while home.<\/p>\n Grill outdoors.\u00a0Cooking indoors raises the heat, requiring the AC to use more electricity.<\/p>\n Use heat-producing appliances like the dryer, dishwasher, or oven after sundown\u00a0instead of during the hottest times of day.<\/p>\n Avoid running your pool pump all day\u00a0by using an automatic timer.<\/p>\n Set your ceiling fan to rotate counterclockwise\u00a0to create a wind chill effect. Also turn off fans when you leave the room.<\/p>\n Close blinds and shades\u00a0to prevent heat buildup and get the most out of the cool air coming from the AC.<\/p>\n More money-saving tips\u00a0can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\nTexas remains at risk for strong to extreme heat through month\u2019s end. (NOAA CPC)<\/p>\n