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Houston goes into vintage summer mode, but there is hope for next week

Houston goes into vintage summer mode, but there is hope for next week
Weathermodels.com

Heat index across Texas

With Barry now out of the picture we return to our regularly scheduled summer misery. I wish I had better news to report but over the next few days our weather looks to be right on track with what you would expect from mid to late July in Houston.

Today and tomorrow we will be firmly under the grasp of an area of high pressure. High pressure on its own means hot temperatures in the summer, but for the next couple of days our area will be on the western side of the high pressure center which will bring our winds in from off the Gulf. This means even more humidity. Despite the air being very moist the area of high pressure (ie sinking air) will put a clamp down on our usual afternoon thunderstorm chances, so don't expect much relief in the form of rain. These higher humidity levels will push our heat index up into the 103-108 range over the next few days so take it easy outside. Yes, it is uncomfortable, but no, it is not out of the ordinary for July.

Forecast heat index for the area. Yes it will be uncomfortableWeathermodels.com

Now on to the good news. This weekend that high slides away from us opening up the possibility for a couple of cooling rain showers. It will still be hot and humid, but maybe not quite AS hot and humid as today and Friday.

In even better news, the forecast appears to be advertising the possibility of a weak front sliding though around the middle of next week. I'm not going to call it a cold front because the effect on our temperatures will be minimal. However, it does signify a shift in wind direction to the north which could at least provide a respite from oppressive humidity. This certainly isn't a guaranteed outcome, but it is something to keep a watch for.

Finally in case you were wondering we are approaching the top of the plateau for what is on average the hottest time of the year. Not surprisingly the end of July through mid-late August represent what is normally the hottest time of the year for us. I know this isn't news to anyone but just keep in mind that we are almost to the peak and in about a month averages will be beginning the trek back down hill. Again, I know this isn't breaking news but sometimes seeing it on a chart makes it seem not as bad.


National Weather Service Houston/Galveston


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Braves beat Houston in extra innings, 5-4. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

Marcell Ozuna hit his major league-leading eighth homer and Orlando Arcia’s RBI single in the 10th inning lifted the Atlanta Braves to a 5-4 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday.

It completes a three-game sweep of the struggling Astros and is Atlanta’s fourth straight victory.

The Braves scored two runs in the eighth inning to tie it at 4-4. Michael Harris II started the 10th as the automatic runner on second and there was one out in the inning when Seth Martinez (1-1) intentionally walked Matt Olson.

Ozuna lined out to right field to send Harris to third base. Arcia then singled on a ground ball to left field to score Harris and put the Braves on top.

Pinch-runner Jake Meyers was on second when Kyle Tucker walked with no outs in the 10th. Meyers moved to third on a fly out by Yainer Diaz but Jeremy Peña grounded into a double play to end it.

A.J. Minter (3-1) got the last two outs of the ninth for the win and Raisel Iglesias earned his fifth save.

Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. added his first homer of the season to help the Braves to the victory. Ozuna also leads the majors with 23 RBIs and he extended his hitting streak to 16 games, which ties his career best and is the longest active streak in the majors.

Yordan Alvarez and Mauricio Dubón both homered for the Astros, who fell to 6-14 and are last in the AL West.

There was one out in the first when Alvarez connected on his homer to the seats in left field to put Houston up 1-0.

Ozuna opened the second with his 432-foot shot to left field, which bounced off the wall and tied the game.

Acuña put the Braves up 2-1 when he sent the first pitch of the fifth inning to straightaway center field.

The Astros tied it on an RBI single by Alex Bregman in the fifth and Kyle Tucker’s RBI double came next to put the Astros up 3-2.

Dubón hit his first home run of the year off Jesse Chavez to start Houston’s sixth and push the lead to 4-2.

Harris singled to start the seventh before a ground-rule double by Austin Riley. Olson reached, and Harris scored on a fielding error by first baseman José Abreu when he couldn’t grab a routine ground ball.

There was one out in the inning when Riley scored on a sacrifice fly by Arcia to tie it at 4-all.

Houston starter J.P. France allowed four hits and two runs in five innings.

Max Fried gave up seven hits and three runs in five innings.

UP NEXT

Braves: Atlanta is off Thursday before opening a series against Texas on Friday night with LHP Chris Sale (1-1, 4.58 ERA) on the mound.

Astros: Houston is also off Thursday before ace Justin Verlander will make his season debut Friday night against Washington. The three-time Cy Young Award winner opened the season on the injured list with inflammation in his right shoulder.

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