# Tavily Search Results: Dusty

**Query:** Latest US extreme weather  
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**Date:** 2026-04-01 06:07:14

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## 1. Arctic Sea Ice Hits Lowest Winter Level as Unprecedented Heat Smashes Global Records - Insurance Journal

**URL:** [https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2026/03/31/864043.htm](https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2026/03/31/864043.htm)  
**Score:** 0.9630

### Summary

The shrinking Arctic sea ice was announced Thursday [March 26] as temperatures broke March heat records across the United States, all over Mexico, in Australia, across Northern Africa and through parts of Northern Europe. Climatologist and weather historian Maximiliano Herrera, who tracks extreme temperatures, called the extreme March temperatures “by far the most extreme heat event in world climatic history” and said on social media that the next few days would be “much worse.” [...] Summer Sea Ice Is Key

The summer melt season — which precedes a September measurement known as the Arctic sea ice minimum — is “really the critical time,” Meier said. One reason is that when there’s less white ice reflecting the strong summer sun, the oceans can absorb more heat. And when that happens, the Arctic warms closer to temperatures further south and atmospheric pressure changes. A leading theory — that is still controversial — says those Arctic changes then alter the movement and shape of the jet stream, which moves weather west to east and contributes to extreme weather bursts, he said.

Melting sea ice does not contribute to sea level rise. [...] Sixteen states broke March temperature records in the past week or so, said weather historian Christ Burt. Twenty-seven locations had temperatures in the past week high enough to tie or surpass the hottest April day on record, including St. Louis, meteorologists said. Mexico has had thousands of records shattered, some of them warmer than the hottest May temperatures, but that’s nothing compared with what’s happening in Asia, where “dozens of thousands of monthly records” were smashed by 30 to 35 degrees (17 to 19 degrees Celsius) margins, Herrera said.

Yet at the same time earlier this week, Antarctica set a record for the coldest March day anywhere on Earth at minus 105.5 degrees (minus 76.4 degrees Celsius), according to Herrera and Burt.

Steady Decline of Sea Ice

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# Arctic Sea Ice Hits Lowest Winter Level as Unprecedented Heat Smashes Global Records

By [Seth Borenstein](https://www.insurancejournal.com/author/seth-borenstein/ "Posts by Seth Borenstein") | March 31, 2026

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Vital Arctic sea ice shrank to tie its lowest measured level for the winter, the season when ice grows, as a warming Earth shattered records across the continents.

Arctic sea ice levels, especially in the summer, are [crucial to Earth’s climate](https://nsidc.org/learn/parts-cryosphere/sea-ice/why-sea-ice-matters#:~:text=in%20global%20climate.-,Sea%20ice%20and%20wildlife,pushing%20some%20species%20to%20extinction.) because without the ice reflecting sunlight, more heat energy goes into the oceans. Ice of all kinds around the poles acts as Earth’s refrigerator. [Wildlife, such as polar bears](https://projects.apnews.com/features/2021/polar-bears-sea-ice/index.html) and seals, also depend on sea ice. Lack of sea ice in the Arctic creates new shipping routes and in doing so causes geopolitical disruptions, making once-ignored places such as Greenland, more desirable.

The shrinking Arctic sea ice was announced Thursday [March 26] as temperatures broke March heat records across the United States, all over Mexico, in Australia, across Northern Africa and through parts of Northern Europe. Climatologist and weather historian Maximiliano Herrera, who tracks extreme temperatures, called the extreme March temperatures “by far the most extreme heat event in world climatic history” and said on social media that the next few days would be “much worse.”

Sixteen states broke March temperature records in the past week or so, said weather historian Christ Burt. Twenty-seven locations had temperatures in the past week high enough to tie or surpass the hottest April day on record, including St. Louis, meteorologists said. Mexico has had thousands of records shattered, some of them warmer than the hottest May temperatures, but that’s nothing compared with what’s happening in Asia, where “dozens of thousands of monthly records” were smashed by 30 to 35 degrees (17 to 19 degrees Celsius) margins, Herrera said.

Yet at the same time earlier this week, Antarctica set a record for the coldest March day anywhere on Earth at minus 105.5 degrees (minus 76.4 degrees Celsius), according to Herrera and Burt.

**Steady Decline of Sea Ice**

Each year Arctic sea ice grows over the cold winter and shrinks in the heat of the summer. This year the growth was so small that its peak, before starting to shrink, measured 5.52 million square miles (14.29 million square kilometers). That’s slightly smaller than last year’s 5.53 million square miles (14.31 million square kilometers), but the National Snow and Ice Data Center, which does the measuring, considers those two figures so close that it’s a tie.

This year’s sea ice area was about 525,000 square miles (1.36 million square kilometers) lower than the 1981 to 2010 winter average peak. That’s about twice the size of Texas.

“As temperatures have warmed and are continuing to warm, especially in the polar region, there is less opportunity to grow ice and it’s gonna tend to, on average, be less,” said data center senior scientist Walt Meier. “It’s not like we are seeing a regime shift or anything. It’s more of a steady decline in the winter and at the maximum. And it also gives us a head start on the summer melt season. We’re starting from a lower number.”

**Summer Sea Ice Is Key**

The summer melt season — which precedes a September measurement known as the Arctic sea ice minimum — is “really the critical time,” Meier said. One reason is that when there’s less white ice reflecting the stro

*[Content truncated...]*

---

## 2. Bad weather is back in the US forecast as April begins - USA Today

**URL:** [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/weather/2026/03/31/severe-weather-forecast-april/89400901007/](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/weather/2026/03/31/severe-weather-forecast-april/89400901007/)  
**Score:** 0.9500

### Summary

## Thursday's severe weather risk returns to Midwest

According to AccuWeather, the risk of severe weather will continue across parts of the Mississippi Valley and Plains on Thursday, April 2, and Friday, April 3, with Thursday’s storms capable of producing strong wind gusts and hail from northern Arkansas to southern Michigan.

## How much rain will fall? Will it help the drought?

A general 1-4 inches of rain is forecast from Texas and the north-central Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes and central Appalachians, with locally higher amounts of up to 6 inches possible, Sosnowski said. "While not all of the rain will fall at once, multiple rounds of disruptive rainfall are likely."

"In drought-stricken areas, repeated rainfall may bring some relief and reduce the risk of spring wildfires." [...] Find us on Google 📌 Eating like it is 1776 Start the day smarter ☀️ Get the USA TODAY app

WEATHER

Weather

# Bad weather is back in the US forecast as April begins

## After a brief break, severe weather is returning to the forecast. Severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding downpours are all possible.

Doyle Rice

USA TODAY

March 31, 2026, 1:03 p.m. ET

After a brief break, severe weather is returning to the forecast as April begins — mainly across the central U.S., with severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding downpours all possible. [...] "Tuesday's storms may bring large hail, damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes, with the greatest concentration from southern Michigan to northeast Illinois, the northern parts of Indiana and Ohio," AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has issued a slight risk (level 2/5) of severe thunderstorms for parts of the Great Lakes/Ohio Valley through Wednesday morning, April 1.

"The hazards associated with these thunderstorms are frequent lightning, severe thunderstorm wind gusts, hail, and a few tornadoes," the WPC said.

## Freezing rain and snow to the north

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[WEATHER](/news/weather/)

Weather

# Bad weather is back in the US forecast as April begins

## After a brief break, severe weather is returning to the forecast. Severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding downpours are all possible.

[Doyle Rice](/staff/2647905001/doyle-rice/)

USA TODAY

March 31, 2026, 1:03 p.m. ET

After a brief break, severe weather is returning to the forecast as April begins — mainly across the central U.S., with severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding downpours all possible.

"Heavy thunderstorms this week may bring hail, damaging winds, tornadoes and flooding rain from the Plains to the Great Lakes, disrupting travel and outdoor plans into Easter weekend," said [AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski in an online forecast.](https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/severe-storms-flooding-downpours-to-focus-on-plains-midwest-great-lakes-into-easter-weekend/1877538)

At the same time, freezing rain and snow will bring a wintry feel to the far northern tier of the U.S. over the next few days.

## Stationary front to blame

On Tuesday, March 31, a front extended from the Northeast across the Great Lakes, Central Plains, Northern Rockies, and Northern California, which will remain nearly stationary with waves of low pressure running along the boundary through Thursday, April 2, [NOAA's Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said in an online forecast](https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/hpcdiscussions.php?disc=pmdspd).

"Tuesday's storms may bring large hail, damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes, with the greatest concentration from southern Michigan to northeast Illinois, the northern parts of Indiana and Ohio," [AccuWeather](https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/severe-storms-flooding-downpours-to-focus-on-plains-midwest-great-lakes-into-easter-weekend/1877538) meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said.

[NOAA's Storm Prediction Center](https://www.spc.noaa.gov/) has issued a slight risk (level 2/5) of severe thunderstorms for parts of the Great Lakes/Ohio Valley through Wednesday morning, April 1.

"The hazards associated with these thunderstorms are frequent lightning, severe thunderstorm wind gusts, hail, and a few tornadoes," the [WPC said](https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/hpcdiscussions.php?disc=pmdspd).

## Freezing rain and snow to the north

"Moreover, rain/freezing rain will develop from parts of the Upper Mississippi Valley/Upper Great Lakes into parts of the Northeast on Tuesday [March 31]," [the WPC said](https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/hpcdiscussions.php?disc=pmdspd). "In addition, light snow will develop over northern Maine and over parts of the Upper Mississippi Valley and Northern Plains."

By Wednesday, April 1, there will be patches of rain and freezing rain from the Central Plains to the Great Lakes, and a second area of rain and freezing rain over parts of the Northeast. Light snow will develop over parts of the Northern and Central Plains and the Upper Mississippi Valley on Wednesday, April 1.

## Wet, stormy Wednesday for millions, forecast says

On Wednesday, April 1, the severe weather threat is forecast to shift south and consolidate over the Plains and parts of the Mississippi Valley, [AccuWeather said](https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/severe-storms-flooding-downpours-to-focus-on-plains-midwest-great-lakes-into-easter-weekend/1877538). Severe weather is anticipated from central Texas through central and southeastern Kansas into southwestern and central Missouri.

Farther to the east, heavy thunderstorms will drench portions of the Ohio Valley and the Mid-Atlantic region Wednesday, April 1. "Along with downpours that can slow travel, some storms may produce winds strong enough to break tree branches and send trash cans and recycling bins flying," Sosnowski said.

## Thursday's severe weather risk returns to Midwest

According to [AccuWeather](https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/severe-storms-flooding-downpours-to-focus-on-plains-midwest-great-lakes-into-easter-weekend/1877538), the risk of severe weather will continue across parts of the Mississippi Valley and Plains on Thursday, April 2, and Friday, April 3, with Thursday’s storms capable of producing strong wind gusts and hail from northern Arkansas to southern Michigan.

## How much rain will fall? Will it help the drought?

A general 1-4 inches of rain is forecast from Texas and the north-central Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes and central Appalachians, with locally higher amounts of up to 6 inches possible, [Sosnowski said](https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/severe-storms-flooding-downpours-to-focus-on-plains-mi

*[Content truncated...]*

---

## 3. Record low Colorado mountain snow won't bode well for water in the drought-stricken US West - AP News

**URL:** [https://apnews.com/article/colorado-drought-water-snow-record-west-d204acb04bdac2524071b6bd627e4665](https://apnews.com/article/colorado-drought-water-snow-record-west-d204acb04bdac2524071b6bd627e4665)  
**Score:** 0.6188

### Summary

Drought was bearing down west of the Rockies, too. In California, snowpack in the Sierra Nevada measured only 18% of the average for this time of year, state data showed.

Hot, dry weather is a recipe for wildfires. While other parts of the U.S., including the South and Southwest, face higher fire risk this spring, forecasters expect the threat in the Rockies to rise as above-average temperatures and below-normal precipitation persist into summer.

This week, the region is getting a reprieve of cooler, damper weather, with snow back in the forecast by the end of the week in North Park. But Anderson said he needs a lot more — half an inch (1 centimeter) of rain every other day for several days — to get out of the drought. [...] Gutsch struggled to match the mood of the sunny, 56-degree (13.3 degrees Celsius) weather as she stood in a section of the Rocky Mountains that’s considered the headwaters of the Colorado River.

“We love being out here. We love being in the snow, taking these measurements. This year, it’s kind of hard to enjoy it because it’s slightly depressing with the conditions that we’ve seen,” said Gutsch, who is with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Department hydrologists told The Associated Press of the dismal, record-low snowpack after concluding their field assessments late Tuesday. [...] They hardly need Gutsch to tell them how parched this winter and spring have been. They remember past droughts — bad ones in 2002, 1981, 1977 — and wonder just what this dry winter will mean for their operations.

“I’ve never seen it so warm so early and no snow all winter long,” said Philip Anderson, a retired teacher who also has ranched most of his life in Colorado’s North Park valley.

The heaviest snows in the Rockies fall in late winter and early spring, including now. Snowfall isn’t unusual in the highest regions even into June.

Anderson’s place is at about 8,100 feet (2,500 meters) in elevation. There, in a typical year, a foot (30 centimeters) or more of snow will linger on his pastures until springtime, helping the grass to green up and stock water ponds to refill.

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## 4. Continental United States direct Atlantic tropical cyclone fatalities: 1963–2024 - Nature

**URL:** [https://www.nature.com/articles/s44304-026-00178-8](https://www.nature.com/articles/s44304-026-00178-8)  
**Score:** 0.3702

### Summary

Article   Google Scholar
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10. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Hurricane Helene Storm Related Fatalities.  (2025).
11. Blake, E., Rappaport, E. & Landsea, C. The deadliest, costliest, and most intense United States tropical cyclones from 1851 to 2006 (and other frequently requested TC facts). NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS TPC-5 (2007).
12. Rippey, B. (2024) U.S. Drought Monitor. U.S. Drought Monitor Map (September 24, 2024). Available at:  (accessed 2026-01-15). [...] Article   Google Scholar
4. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters. ,  (2025).
5. EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database.  (Universite Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, 2025).
6. SHELDUS, ASU Center for Emergency Management and Homeland Security. (2025). The Spatial Hazard Events and Losses Database for the United States, Version 23.0 [Online Database]. Retrieved from .
7. Brennan, M., Brown, D. & Pope, L. Recent Trends in Tropical Cyclone Fatalities in the United States. The Front Page (AMS Blog).  (2023, August 8).
8. Beven, J. L. & Coauthors Atlantic Hurricane season of 2005. Mon. Weather Rev. 136, 1109–1173,  (2008). [...] Article  CAS   Google Scholar
28. Elliott, R. Hurricane Helene highlights the need to expand US flood insurance coverage. USApp – American Politics and Policy Blog. London School of Economics and Political Science.  (2024, October 4).
29. Hong, Y.-R., Chu, H., Xie, Z. & Dalisay, F. Before Helene’s landfall: analysis of disaster risk perceptions and preparedness assessment in the Southeastern United States in 2023. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 22, 155,  (2025).

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Continental United States direct Atlantic tropical cyclone fatalities: 1963–2024

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# Continental United States direct Atlantic tropical cyclone fatalities: 1963–2024

* [Joanne Muller](#auth-Joanne-Muller-Aff1-Aff2)[1](#Aff1),[2](#Aff2),
* [Abigail M. Idzik](#auth-Abigail_M_-Idzik-Aff1-Aff2)[1](#Aff1),[2](#Aff2),
* [Dylan Benzi](#auth-Dylan-Benzi-Aff1-Aff3)[1](#Aff1),[3](#Aff3),
* [Philip J. Klotzbach](#auth-Philip_J_-Klotzbach-Aff4)[4](#Aff4),
* [Heather Skaza Acosta](#auth-Heather_Skaza-Acosta-Aff1)[1](#Aff1),
* [Daniel R. Chavas](#auth-Daniel_R_-Chavas-Aff5)[5](#Aff5),
* [Sebastian Aspron Urdaneta](#auth-Sebastian_Aspron-Urdaneta-Aff1-Aff2)[1](#Aff1),[2](#Aff2),
* [Charles T. Gray](#auth-Charles_T_-Gray-Aff1-Aff3)[1](#Aff1),[3](#Aff3),
* [Jamie E. Morris](#auth-Jamie_E_-Morris-Aff1-Aff2)[1](#Aff1),[2](#Aff2),
* [Senthil B. Girimurugan](#auth-Senthil_B_-Girimurugan-Aff6)[6](#Aff6) &
* …
* [Dhruvkumar Bhatt](#auth-Dhruvkumar-Bhatt-Aff2)[2](#Aff2)

[*npj Natural Hazards*](/npjnathazards) **volume 3**, Article number: 38 (2026) [Cite this article](#citeas)

### Subjects

* [Climate sciences](/subjects/climate-sciences)
* [Hydrology](/subjects/hydrology)
* [Natural hazards](/subjects/natural-hazards)
* [Water resources](/subjects/water-resources)

## Abstract

Tropical cyclone (TC) fatality attribution is critical for understanding changing risk patterns, warning effectiveness, and informing emergency management strategies. Despite this, publicly available TC fatality time series data are incomplete. The last publication on TC fatalities, broken down by peril, spanned 1963–2012. To extend this record and capture more recent trends in TC mortality patterns, we present a publicly accessible fatalities database of direct continental United States TC fatalities spanning 1963–2024. We find that the leading cause of TC fatalities is freshwater flood (36%) followed by storm surge (33%). Freshwater flood fatalities are common across storms (10% of storms have >1 fatality), whereas surge fatalities are concentrated in a smaller number of high-impact events (3% of storms have >1 fatality). We also note that high fatality years tend to coincide with high seasonal Atlantic accumulated cyclone energy, with low fatality years coinciding with lower seasonal accumulated cyclone energy.

## Introduction

Given significant population increases in tropical cyclone (TC)-prone coastal regions of the continental United States (CONUS), it is crucial to have a publicly available fatalities database that allows for a better understanding of past fatalities directly related to TCs. A clearer picture of how fatality trends have evolved over time may, in turn, enhance TC risk communication in vulnerable regions. Despite the significance of an accurate assessment of potential TC-induced fatalities, limited information exists[1](/articles/s44304-026-00178-8#ref-CR1 "Czajkowski, J. & Kennedy, E. Fatal tradeoff? Toward a better understanding of the costs of not evacuating from a TC in landfall counties, population. Environments 31, 121–149, 
                  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11111-009-0097-x
                  
                 (2010)."). Two papers assessing historic CONUS TC direct fatalities are Rappaport[2](/articles/s44304-026-00178-8#ref-CR2 "Rappaport, E. N. Loss of life in the United States associated with recent Atlantic tropical cyclones. Bull. Am. Meteor. Soc. 81, 2065–2073 (2000). 10.1175/1520-0477(2000)081%3C2065:LOLITU%3E2.3.CO;2.") and Rappaport[3](/articles/s44304-026-00178-8#ref-CR3 "Rappaport, E. N. Fatalities in the United States from Atlantic tropical cyclones: new data and interpretation. Bull. Am. Meteor. Soc. 95, 341–346, 
                  https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00074.1
                  
                 (2014)."). Rappaport[2](/articles/s44304-026-00178-8#ref-CR2 "Rappaport, E. N. Loss of lif

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## 5. Storm chances rise in Houston later this week with cooler Easter ahead - Houston Chronicle

**URL:** [https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/forecast/article/houston-weather-storms-return-easter-weekend-22159283.php](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/forecast/article/houston-weather-storms-return-easter-weekend-22159283.php)  
**Score:** 0.0440

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Weather//Weather Forecasts

# Houston storms possible later this week as severe risk rises across Texas

By Justin Ballard, Newsroom Meteorologist

Stronger thunderstorms could hit Texas later this week as a spring storm system moves in, followed by noticeably cooler weather for Easter weekend.

While weather early in the week stay mostly warm and somewhat humid, increasing moisture and a series of disturbances will gradually boost rain chances. The best opportunity for more widespread — and possibly stronger — storms arrives Thursday, followed by another round of rain and a cold front this weekend.

## Tuesday: Warm and breezy in Houston [...] What is more certain is that behind the front, noticeably cooler air settles in. Temperatures may only reach the upper 60s to low 70s on Easter Sunday, with overnight lows dipping into the upper 40s to low 50s — a sharp reminder that spring cold fronts can still pack a punch.

Justin Ballard

Meteorologist

Justin Ballard is the Houston Chronicle's newsroom meteorologist.

In his role, Justin is responsible for posting daily weather forecasts. On top of daily forecasts, he tackles in-depth weather and climate stories that impact the residents of Southeast Texas.

A North Carolina native, Justin joined the Chronicle in July 2023. He graduated with his bachelor's degree in meteorology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in December 2017.

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1. [...] Farther north and west across Texas, the same system will bring a risk of severe thunderstorms by late Wednesday, including large hail and damaging wind gusts. That activity should stay well north of Houston, though strong storms could complicate travel from Houston to Dallas-Fort Worth or Wichita Falls.

If you don’t get rain Wednesday, Thursday could bring better chances.

## Strong storms and a big temperature drop

Rain and storm chances ramp up significantly Thursday as a stronger system moves in from North Texas.

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SEASON OUTLOOK: AccuWeather's 2026 hurricane season forecast is out. Here's what it means for Texas.

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[Weather](/news/houston-weather/)//[Weather Forecasts](/news/houston-weather/forecast/)

# Houston storms possible later this week as severe risk rises across Texas

By [Justin Ballard](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/author/justin-ballard/), Newsroom Meteorologist

Stronger thunderstorms could hit Texas later this week as a [spring storm system](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/forecast/article/houston-weather-storm-chances-this-week-22158264.php) moves in, followed by noticeably cooler weather for Easter weekend.

While weather early in the week stay mostly warm and somewhat humid, increasing moisture and a series of disturbances will gradually boost rain chances. The best opportunity for more widespread — and possibly stronger — storms arrives Thursday, followed by another round of rain and a cold front this weekend.

## Tuesday: Warm and breezy in Houston

Tuesday starts off cloudy with some patchy morning fog. Visibility may be reduced to a quarter mile or less in locations near and south of Houston, though conditions should improve shortly after sunrise.

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**SEVERE STORMS KNOWLEDGE:** [What's the difference between storm types and what are the warning signs?](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/article/storm-types-explained-supercells-hail-tornado-risk-21941107.php)

Skies turn partly cloudy by the afternoon as southeasterly winds pick up, especially west of Interstate 45 and south of Interstate 10, where gusts could reach 20 mph or stronger. Temperatures could climb into the middle to upper 80s away from the coast, with cooler upper 70s near the coast.

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A weak disturbance could squeeze out a few light sprinkles east of the Brazos Valley toward the Piney Woods, but most areas stay dry. A light breeze Tuesday evening should also keep fog from becoming too dense into Wednesday morning as temps drop into the upper 60s.

## Rain chances arrive Wednesday

By Wednesday, a few more neighborhoods could see a brief shower or downpour.

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Rain chances tick up slightly as an upper-level atmospheric disturbance moves overhead, though a ridge of high pressure over Southeast Texas may limit how much activity develops. That means many neighborhoods will likely stay dry again, with warm temperatures in the middle to upper 80s inland and upper 70s along the coast.

Farther north and west across Texas, the same system will bring a risk of severe thunderstorms by late Wednesday, including large hail and damaging wind gusts. That activity should stay well north of Houston, though strong storms could complicate travel from Houston to Dallas-Fort Worth or Wichita Falls.

If you don’t get rain Wednesday, Thursday could bring better chances.

## Strong storms and a big temperature drop

Rain and storm chances ramp up significantly Thursday as a stronger system moves in from North Texas.

Advertisement

Article continues below this ad

**SEASON OUTLOOK:** [AccuWeather's 2026 hurricane season forecast is out. Here's what it means for Texas.](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/hurricanes/article/hurricane-season-2026-outlook-accuweather-texas-22095768.php)

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to push into Southeast Texas, though exact timing remains uncertain. Some storms could be strong, and this system has the potential to bring more widespread, beneficial rainfall.

Clouds and rain will keep temperatures cooler, with highs mainly near 80 degrees in the Houston area.

Friday offers a brief break with only hit-or-miss showers, but another system arrives over the weekend. Rain chances increase again Saturday into Sunday as a cold front moves through the region.

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Could storms disrupt Easter travel? It’s possible, but not a guarantee.

What is more certain is that behind the front, noticeably cooler air settles in. Temperatures may only reach the upper 60s to low 70s on Easter Sunday, with overnight lows dipping into the upper 40s to low 50s — a sharp reminder that [spring cold fronts](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/forecast/article/cold-front-arrives-houston-friday-weather-forecast-22153907.php) can still pack a punch.

[Justin Ballard](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/author/justin-ballard/)

Meteorologist

Justin Ballard is the Houston Chronicle's newsroom meteorologist.

In his role, Justin is responsible for posting daily weather forecasts. On top of daily forecasts, he tackles in-depth weather and climate stories that impact the residents of Southeast Texas.

A North Carolina native, Justin joined the Chronicle in July 2023. He graduated with his bachelor's degree in meteorology

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