Houston could hit 100 degrees this week as Southeast Texas nears drought status

High heat could trigger heat advisories for Southeast Texas on Friday through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. High heat could trigger heat advisories for Southeast Texas on Friday through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. Photo: National Weather Service Photo: National Weather Service Image 1 of / 78 Caption Close Houston could hit 100 degrees this week as Southeast Texas nears drought status 1 / 78 Back to Gallery

Temperatures in Houston could reach 100 degrees this week, the first for 2019, meteorologists predict.

The high heat could trigger heat advisories for Southeast Texas on Friday through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. The heat also bolsters the area's drought status, which is worsening as the ground is desperate for moisture.

While heat index values, or "feels like" temperatures, have already been recorded well in excess of 100 degrees several times this year, actual temperatures have yet to exceed 97 degrees in Houston.

Tuesday's predicted high in Houston is 95 degrees, with heat index values predicted between 105 and 109 degrees, according to the NWS. A seabreeze from the Gulf of Mexico is predicted to move inland Tuesday and Wednesday, sending actual temperatures soaring as high as 102 and nixing any chances of rain until at least Monday.

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That could spell trouble for the area's drought status. Much of the area is in a deficit when it comes to annual rainfall, meaning plants and vegetation are more dry and easier to burn.

Much of Harris County sits between 500 and 600 on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, which measures moisture saturation in the ground throughout Texas. The scale is zero to 800, with higher values indicating drier ground, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Parts of Harris County near Katy have reached up to 629 on the KBDI, with other areas near Spring reaching as low as 257, according to the index kept track by TAMFS.

Experts with NWS in Houston urge residents to stay hydrated while limiting time outdoors, especially in the afternoon hours of the day when it is expected to be the hottest throughout the week. If you must be outside, they recommend wearing light clothing and plenty of sunscreen.

They also urge drivers to check the backseats of their vehicles for any children or pets who may have been forgotten.

Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message