Houston's first 100-degree day may be here soon
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Parts of the Houston metro could hit 100 degrees Tuesday for the first time this summer.
Why it matters: Triple-digit temperatures can be deadly, especially for vulnerable people like the elderly and those experiencing homelessness.
State of play: Tuesday's heat will likely linger into Wednesday, and there is very little wind expected, meaning there won't be much reprieve from the heat, says Katie Landry, meteorologist and hydrologist at the National Weather Service in Houston.
- Heat index values will be as high as 106 on Tuesday, per the NWS, Heat index values will be as high as 106 today, per the NWS, which issued a heat advisory from 11am-8pm Tuesday.
- Rain may be coming later in the week, though chances so far are low, Landry tells Axios.
The big picture: The forecast for the rest of the week is uncertain and hinges on the path of a tropical depression in the Gulf that is expected to become Tropical Storm Bertha.
- The system is expected to reach Louisiana on Wednesday and Texas on Friday, the National Hurricane Center's latest forecast shows.
Yes, but: That tropical depression hasn't yet formed into a storm, meaning it's harder to predict where it might head, but Landry says she expects it might "skirt to the northern portion of the Gulf" and miss the Houston area.
What's next: Landry notes forecasters will have a better idea of the system's trajectory on Wednesday. For now, she warns Houston-area residents to avoid the outdoors on Tuesday if possible, wear light, loose-fitting clothes, and drink plenty of fluids.
- She also recommends checking on friends and neighbors. "We want to make sure we're staying in touch with those folks to make sure they're getting what they need in order to prevent any symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke," Landry says.