It's that time, Houston: "Early summer" will arrive this weekend. But it could definitely be worse.

[WeatherBot]

Originally published at: It’s that time, Houston: “Early summer” will arrive this weekend. But it could definitely be worse. – Space City Weather

In brief: In today’s post we discuss the region’s slide into summer starting this weekend. However, we are hopeful that Houston will spend an extended period in “early” summer rather than jumping directly into really hot conditions this year. Take the win, y’all!

Phases of summer

If we’re being real, all of summer in Houston is fairly hot and fairly humid. There is no escaping that in a city (located at 29.7 degrees north) that lies not all that far from the tropics and near a large body of warm water. But longtime residents will appreciate that there are different gradations of summer in Houston, which range from somewhat tolerable to utterly miserable. Understanding these different phases may help readers endure the long slog of summer in Houston, which typically runs from late May into mid-October, or nearly five months.

Here are the four phases:

• Early summer: When we first start to see 90-degree temperatures with some regularity, but some nights in the 60s are still possible, and there’s still the thinnest hope of a weak front.
• Mid summer: When highs run from 90 to 95 degrees, and nights are sultry, but you know it could still get worse.
• High summer: Somewhere between late July and early September there’s a period where temperatures reach the upper 90s to low 100s and you realize, “Ok, this really is the worst.”
• Late summer: This is the period in September and early October when days grow shorter and we usually see the first front or two of the season. But most of the time it’s still hot.

The longer Houston can remain in “Early summer” the better. For example, last year Houston hopped right into Mid-summer in the first week of June, with highs in the low- to mid-90s, and even one day with a high of 97 degrees. This year I’m happy to report that we appear likely to ease into summer with a sustained phase of “Early summer.” At this time year, friends, you have to take the small wins in Houston weather where you can. Because in June, July, and August there are very, very few big wins.

Thursday

Conditions are reasonably cool this morning for late May, with lows in the upper 60s across most of the region. We are now going to begin a warming trend, however. Highs today will climb into the upper 80s with mostly sunny skies. Winds, also, will be fairly light, from the northwest at about 5 mph. Lows tonight will be a few degrees warmer, likely in the lower 70s for most of the region.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

The onshore flow will return with a little more oomph this weekend, and with Houston on the edge of a high pressure system we are likely to see mostly sunny skies. We can probably expect daily highs around 90 degrees, perhaps a shade warmer for inland areas, and a bit cooler near the coast. Dewpoints in the lower 70s are by no means ‘comfortable,’ but they’re still notably lower than we’re likely to see later this summer. This weekend really is the definition of “Early summer,” so as we slide into June take it for what it is. Rain chances are near zero this weekend—we could see a stray shower here or there, but probably not.

Next week

Our temperatures will remain in the vicinity of 90 degrees for most of next week. By Tuesday or Wednesday we start to see a few more clouds and there will be a daily chance for some showers. Said chances won’t be too high, nor do rain accumulations look too serious. But showers could take a degree or two off daily highs. Houston’s weather, dare we say it, looks mild as we get into the first week of June?

[Glenn]

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald

As a child growing up in this area I could not wait for the last day of school and the official start to summer. It meant being outside with my friends from late morning “until the street lights came on”. We spent very little time indoors. That was before the internet, gaming and on demand TV. All we had was channels 2, 8, 11, 13, 26 and 39 on TV and there was not much enjoyable to a kid about watching the Phil Donahue show. Nowadays I spend my time dreading the long Houston heat and humidity.

The good news is this May has been “retro” and likely the first month since January of 2025 that has had below normal temps. I will take it…

[MichaelVJozwiak]

Yes. Being a child of the 1960s, we were often outdoors, except for when the daily 20% shower, sprinkle or gully washer rolled by. I do not remember ever being miserably hot. I think a child’s body adapts to the heat. There was the neighbors’ swimming pool, walking a half mile to the library for story book hour from 1967 to 1969, 3 on 3 softball, and if less than 6 kids, it was flies and rollers or hot box. Mom would let us ride our bikes through the Broadway-Park Place suicide circle to swimming lessons 1.6 miles away. The heat did not stop us outdoor kids.

[Joseph]

Enjoy the realitively mild start to summer while it lasts because I remember in 2023 late May and early June was rather mild with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s and lows in the mid to upper 60s. Then in mid June all hell broke lose and it was upper 90s to 100 degrees almost everyday with no real let up until early October. Most days were at heat advisory or excessive heat warning territory. I’m not saying that will happen this year, but it is a legit possibility. I really hope this year won’t be a repeat of that.

[Roadworks]

The weather here is great. You all complain so much! Sunshine broken up with regular storms, a mild winter, never too cold and long summer a bit humid but nothing too bad!

Everywhere has Aircon and nighttime temperatures aren’t too bad.

Southern Europe regularly exceeds 110 F with places like Spain having less than half the houses having Aircon - and even if they do it’s a single cassette unit.

The middle east, now that’s hot - 120F+ in the summer. Regularly above 100 in the middle of the night. You can’t go outside for more than a few minutes without risking heatstroke. Opening your door feels like opening an oven!

Places that people love to go on vacation like Thailand are hotter than Houston and more humid.

And then the winter here low is what 30 F? - try living in northern/eastern Europe winters are -20F and there’s only 5 hours or so of daylight.

The weather here is great!

[Roadworks]

For another example - try living in Scotland. Summer doesn’t get much above the high 60s and it rains all the time. You’re lucky to get 10 nice days in the whole of summer. Otherwise it rains. And if it doesn’t rain it’s grey. Because it never gets warm everything is wet and damp. Houses, fields, clothes, it’s just damp. Winter is worse - dark when you get up and starts getting dark at 3.30 in the afternoon. Grey skies all the time. Miserable!

[Narillan]

August and September for me is when I start calling it second summer. The heat is inescapable and by that time I’m sick of the 90s. Particularly September where everybody goes it’s almost fall and I’m like no it’s hot. That’s the point of the Year where the heat really just combines at 5pm or 6pm with ground heat radiation to make the early evening miserable.

[CraigHarmann]

Bring on the heat and summer gloriousness!! I lived for far too long where the potential (at least what I’ve lived through in the Midwest) for snow and cold temperatures lasted from October through May. 1000% nope.

[Blackhawks_Fan]

I hate all four phases of summer here.