Oppressive heat to add to misery in Harvey disaster areas early this week

By Renee Duff, Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

AccuWeather Global Headquarters – AccuWeather reports sweltering heat and humidity will add further strain to recovery efforts in Texas and Louisiana prior to the arrival of cooler air later next week.

Temperatures will peak in the upper 80s and lower 90s F along the western and central Gulf Coast each afternoon through Tuesday.

High humidity levels and times of sunshine will push AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures into the upper 90s to low 100s. Humidity levels will be even higher where Florida odwaters remain.

Little relief will come after dark as it will remain warm and muggy with AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures hovering in the 80s F.

Those who remain without power and air conditioning can head to an open shopping mall, library or shelter to seek relief from the heat. Drink plenty of clean, bottled water or properly boiled water to prevent dehydration.

On Friday, the United States Marine Corps announced on Twitter that members of the Marine Corps Reserve are searching flooded neighborhoods throughout the Houston metro area for residents that still need rescuing.

The dangers of poisonous snakes, alligators and other creatures will linger in the floodwaters as rescue crews continue to search inundated neighborhoods and residents try to gather belongings.

Recovery efforts may be slowed for a time as spotty thunderstorms erupt early in the week as a surge of tropical moisture briefly returns to the Gulf Coast.

A dramatic change in the weather pattern will bring much-needed relief to the area later in the week.

“High pressure will provide the impetus for a bout of autumnal weather as it surges southward out of central Canada across the Great Plains and then into Texas and Louisiana at midweek,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Mike LeSeney said.

Humidity will drop to unusually low levels along the Gulf Coast with temperatures falling to around 10 degrees Fahrenheit below normal.

“Daytime temperatures on Thursday and Friday will be held to the lower 80s, such temperatures are more representative of October than early September,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.

The cool nights may even challenge records. For example, Houston will come very close to the record low of 59 on Wednesday night. Anybody outdoors will want to bundle up.