Houston 10 day weather forecast: The Cold Front Reality Check

Houston 10 day weather forecast: The Cold Front Reality Check

Honestly, if you’ve lived in Houston for more than a week, you know the drill. You leave the house in a parka at 7:00 AM and by lunch, you’re sweating through your shirt and regretting every life choice that led you to wear wool. But looking at the houston 10 day weather forecast starting this Sunday, January 18, 2026, things are actually looking surprisingly consistent—well, for the first half, anyway.

We’re kicking things off with a beautiful, albeit crisp, Sunday. High of 55°F. Sunny. It’s basically the perfect "sit on the patio with a hot coffee" weather. But don't let that sun fool you into thinking winter is over. Tonight is going to be a bit of a nail-biter for the plant parents out there. We’re looking at a low of 34°F with clear skies. The National Weather Service has been chatting about a light freeze risk mainly north of the metro, but even inside the Loop, patchy frost is a real possibility after midnight.

The Mid-Week "Switch-Up"

Monday and Tuesday are basically the "calm before the storm," though "storm" is a bit dramatic. More like the "calm before the damp." Monday, January 19, warms up nicely to 64°F. It’s a holiday for many (MLK Day), and the weather is cooperating with pure sunshine.

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Then Tuesday hits.
Cloudy.
High of 61°F.
You’ll start to feel that Gulf moisture creeping back in.

By Wednesday, January 21, the houston 10 day weather forecast takes a turn for the wet. We’re looking at a 40% chance of light rain during the day, jumping to 65% by evening. It’s not going to be a washout, but it’s that annoying, misty Houston rain that makes the 610 loop a nightmare. The humidity is going to spike to around 83%, so expect your hair to do that thing it does.

A Weekend Rollercoaster

If you have outdoor plans for next weekend, you might want to keep a Backup Plan B in your pocket.

  • Friday, Jan 23: High of 66°F, light rain likely (35% chance).
  • Saturday, Jan 24: This is the peak of the warm-up. We’re hitting 52°F early but it's weird—the temperatures are actually crashing. A strong cold front is slated to blow through.
  • Sunday, Jan 25: Welcome to the freezer. High of 41°F. Low of 28°F.

Yeah, you read that right. 28 degrees.

This second front looks much more aggressive than the one we're currently sitting in. By Sunday night and into Monday, Jan 26, we are looking at hard freeze territory. Northwest winds will be kicking at about 12-13 mph, making that 41°F feel a lot more like 30°F.

Why the Forecast Keeps Changing

You might notice different apps saying different things. One says 60% rain, another says 40%. Basically, it comes down to a coastal trough that's trying to develop in the Gulf. If that trough stays offshore, we stay dry. If it nudges inland—like some models are suggesting for Wednesday and Thursday—we get soaked.

Space City Weather and the local NWS office are keeping a close eye on the "instability" near the coast. Since we’ve had a fairly dry start to the month (only about 0.19 inches of rain so far at Bush IAH), the ground can handle a good soak, but nobody likes a rainy commute.

Survival Tips for the Next 10 Days

Since the houston 10 day weather forecast is essentially a vertical line on a heart monitor, you need to prepare in stages.

First, tonight is for the pipes and plants. If it's sensitive and outside, bring it in or cover it. Sunday night's 34°F is close enough to the freezing mark that the "radiational cooling" can nip your hibiscus.

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Second, prep for the "Big Cold" next weekend. This isn't just a "sweater weather" situation; 28°F is "drip the faucets" territory for older homes. Make sure your car battery is in good shape too—January is famous for killing batteries that were already on their last legs.

Lastly, keep the umbrella in the car starting Tuesday. You won't need it Sunday or Monday, but you'll definitely want it by Wednesday afternoon.

Check your tire pressure. Cold snaps like the one coming next Sunday always trigger those annoying dashboard lights because the air density changes. It’s better to top them off now than at a gas station in 40-degree rain.

Stay warm, Houston. It’s gonna be a weird one.

Next Steps for You:

  1. Check your outdoor pipes before the temperature drops to 28°F next Sunday.
  2. Download a radar app to track the Wednesday evening rain.
  3. Plan your car maintenance now before the late-month freeze hits.