Strong storms threaten as cold front targets Houston area Tuesday

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Houston and the surrounding area may see some severe weather action Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, as a line of storms move into the region ahead of an incoming cold front. 

Tuesday temperatures should stay balmy and warm, with mostly cloudy skies covering the majority of the Bayou City, according to Space City Weather's Eric Berger.  "Some very light, and fairly scattered showers will be possible today and this evening, with most of this activity occurring on the west side of the metro area. Rain chances will increase tonight, especially after midnight, with the approach of a front," Berger said in his Tuesday morning forecast. 

The potential storms—and the incoming cold front trailing behind them—are a bit unpredictable at this point, according to Berger. 

"The thing with this front is that it’s going to be moving pretty slowly, likely reaching areas such at Katy and The Woodlands by around sunrise on Wednesday, but not pushing off the coast until Wednesday afternoon or evening. Therefore, while the ingredients for heavy rainfall and severe storms are lacking overall, there probably will be a few areas where such storms develop and stall," Berger forecasted Tuesday morning.

 "Put another way, much of the metro area will likely receive about one-quarter of an inch of rainfall. However, some smaller areas may pick up 2 inches or so, with higher amounts possible, as storms stall. The most likely time and place for these heavier rains is between midnight and sunrise on Wednesday, to the west of Interstate 45," Berger added.  

Berger predicted Tuesday morning that much of the region should see temperatures in the 70s on Wednesday ahead of the cold front's slow plod through the Houston area. " Cloudy skies should clear out overnight on Wednesday, with low temperatures dropping into the 40s," Space City Weather predicted Tuesday.