HOUSTON – Houston's record high of 80 degrees, set back in 1996, has been broken as the mercury climbed to 81 degrees at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. The normal high temperature this time of year is a mere 63 degrees.
Coincidentally, on this date in 1989 Houston temperatures bottomed out at a bone-chilling, pipe-bursting 7 degrees! It is the coldest temperature ever recorded in Houston in the month of December and it facilitated nearly 2 inches of snow in the area.
[WATCH VIDEO OF THE 1989 BLIZZARD]
This year, the heat wins. Expect the current warm spell to last through Saturday, as temperatures flirt with the 80 degree mark each day.
Christmas Eve promises partly cloudy skies with no rain. Christmas Day will be cloudy with periodic light rain showers possible all day long.
Houston's hottest Christmas came in 1964, when temperatures reached 82 degrees. With thick clouds expected in Houston, Christmas 2015 will likely not set a new record, but we should come within a few degrees of it.
Big changes will come on Sunday, as a potent storm system winds up over Texas and drives a powerful cold front through the area. Strong to severe thunderstorms are likely ahead of the front. They could produce damaging winds and isolated tornadoes.
Behind the cold front, drastically colder air will filter into Houston. You'll feel it Monday morning, as temperatures drop into the 40s. Later in the week, temperatures will drop close to freezing in the morning with afternoon highs only in the 40s and 50s.