HOUSTON – As we approach mid-April, our heat and humidity is climbing and we’re settling into an early summerlike pattern. We have daily chances (20-40%) for afternoon thunderstorms. These storms are mostly scattered, sometimes strong, but generally not well-organized and very short lived.
These thunderstorms are called “diurnal storms,” which is a fancy way to say they thrive during the daytime. Diurnal is the opposite of nocturnal.
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Typically the best chance to see storms will be between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on most days. That means if you’ve got after-school pickups, commutes, or late afternoon plans, it’s likely you’ll want to keep an umbrella handy. While not every corner of Houston will see a storm every day, most areas will notice at least a passing rain shower or thunderstorm at some point during the week.
How do these storms form?
Warm air rises from the Earth’s surface, lifting moisture high into the atmosphere. As this moist air climbs, it cools and condenses to create clouds. Those clouds then grow into the classic cumulus shape before maturing into thunderheads, which can bring quick downpours and dramatic lightning displays.
Once storms reach their mature stage, bursts of rain and thunder are likely, though most activity will fade as evening approaches.
This is why we usually see quiet conditions by sunset!
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