Houston is enduring what one local meteorologist is calling the worst humidity he has witnessed in the region, as an Extreme Heat Warning grips Southeast Texas through Thursday night.
“This is probably the worst humidity I have ever seen in Texas,” the forecaster wrote in a Thursday afternoon update, noting widespread dew points between 81 and 86 degrees across the area.
The oppressive conditions arrived after Tropical Storm Arthur swept through the state earlier in the week, dumping heavy rain before giving way to soaring temperatures and thick moisture. Officials say the storm’s broader weather pattern is largely responsible for the extreme humidity now blanketing the region.
By Thursday evening, dew points in Houston had climbed to around 78 degrees, a level meteorologists consider dangerously humid. Experts note that air becomes noticeably uncomfortable once dew points pass 65 degrees, making Thursday’s numbers far beyond typical summer discomfort.
Heat indices across Southeast Texas reached as high as 114 degrees as the Extreme Heat Warning remained active. Residents took to social media to describe the conditions as unbearable, with several saying the thick air made it difficult to breathe, particularly for those with respiratory conditions.
Forecasters warn there will be little relief in the short term. Friday is expected to bring nearly identical heat and humidity levels, with a Heat Advisory remaining in effect for the Houston area through Saturday night. Even overnight lows are not expected to offer significant cooling.
The National Weather Service’s Houston-Galveston office cautioned that the lack of overnight relief raises the risk of heat-related illness, warning the danger could compound with each passing day.
Health officials are urging residents to limit outdoor activity, stay hydrated, and check on vulnerable neighbors as the dangerous heat and humidity are expected to persist through the weekend.
