HOUSTON — So far in 2024, rainfall in Houston has outpaced the average rainfall we usually see for this time of year.
According to the weather observation station at Bush Intercontinental Airport, we have received around 46" inches of rain as of July 28, 2024. The normal yearly rainfall for this time of year in Houston normally is around 28.55". However, the actual total is likely well above that. We will revisit why later in this article.
One of the reasons for the wetter-than-normal weather pattern is that earlier in the year, we were ending the winter season in an El Niño pattern. This causes the Pacific jet stream to take a more southern track bringing surges of atmospheric moisture and showers into Southeast Texas.
According to the Climate Prediction Center, our climate pattern is transitioning into a La Niña phase through the spring and summer months of 2024. We have entered the "ENSO Neutral" phase, or El Niño Southern Oscillation Neutral Phase. During the ENSO neutral phase, the climate pattern is neither La Niño nor La Niña. Our weather pattern in Southeast Texas is still influenced by the sub-tropical jet stream keeping wetter than normal conditions. Researchers at Florida State University also report that ENSO-neutral phases could bring more hurricane activity to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.
As we end the month of July in Houston, the weather observation station at IAH reported a total of 10.32" of rain, surpassing the normal 3.39" we receive for this time of year. However, there are some discrepancies due to a significant weather event that occurred on July 8, 2024.
Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Matagorda in the early morning hours of July 8 and quickly weakened as a tropical storm as it traveled northwest of Houston. During this time, widespread power outages and wind damage across the city caused the weather observation station at Bush Intercontinental Airport to stop collecting data. Only 4.72" of rain was reported while other rain gauges in Harris County and Houston reported up to 8-10" of rainfall. It is well likely that the yearly rainfall amount at Bush could exceed 50" or more for this time of year.
As we head into the new work week, a much-needed break from the rain is expected for Southeast Texas. High pressure will build in keeping the rain away and bringing the return of hot and humid conditions. We will go from flooding concerns to heat-related concerns as afternoon high temperatures will be back in the 90s with heat indices in the 100s.
However, keep an eye on the tropics as we are heading closer to the peak of hurricane season.