Scattered showers are expected to sweep through much of southeast Texas and the Houston region today as the area gets a short-lived break from recent dry conditions and searing heat.
But the area is likely to dry out and the mercury climb by the weekend when a ridge of high pressure settles above the region, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters said the rain showers likely will help firefighters battling rampaging wild fires that have blackened thousands of acres and charred homes in east Texas.
Areas near fires burning in Grimes, Walker, Trinity and Madison counties probably have been drenched as the line of showers moves toward the Houston region and the coastline.
College Station has recorded nearly an inch and a half of rain so far while Huntsville has had 0.30 inches this morning.
It is unclear how the rain may have helped firefighters so far, forecasters said, But, they added, the slow-moving system may dump more showers in areas where the fires are burning before it moves toward the coast.
"Its raining so it's going to help," said Scott Overpeck, a weather service meteorologist.
Today in the Houston area, a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms is likely as the system moves through the area. The rain will be scattered and some areas may get as much as an inch and a half of rain fall, forecasters said. The high will be near 93 degrees under mostly cloudy skies. The low will be near 78.
Rain chances drop to 30 percent on Thursday. The high will be in the mid 90s under mostly cloud skies. The low will be in the upper 70s. The heat index—how hot the air feels when humidity and temperature combine—could climb to 104.
Friday, the chance for rain will be about 20 percent. The high be near 96 and the overnight low will be about 77.
By the weekend, the area dries out and the temperatures gradually climb, forecasters said. The highs Saturday and Sunday will be in the upper 90s under mostly sunny skies. The lows will be in the upper 70s. No rain is forecast.
The Associated Press reported today that about 33,000 people were without power in North Texas after storms moved through that part of the state.
