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The 30-plus-degree drop in temperatures from Sunday’s high of 84 to the lower 50's Monday morning have been a shock to our systems, to say the least. Houston’s run-in with colder weather won’t last long, though. By the end of the work week, only two days into the new year, temperatures are expected to climb back toward 80 degrees.

Is La Niña responsible for this winter’s indecisive weather so far?

SEASON OF FOG:During last week’s warm weather, daily fog was a problem. Why is fog so common during the winter?

Light freeze possible Tuesday night

Tuesday morning started on a cold note. Most neighborhoods across Southeast Texas dropped into the 30s, with mid-30s mainly confined to spots along and north of Interstate 10.

Mostly cloudy skies should give way to brilliant sunshine by the afternoon, but with temperatures peaking only near 55 degrees. Lighter northerly winds will keep the cold around one more night.

A light freeze will be possible under clear skies and calm winds for those in suburban Houston communities like Katy and The Woodlands. Even areas south of Houston, like Angleton and Sugar Land, could see morning temps drop to freezing (32 degrees) or slightly lower.

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Will this be the kind of freeze that causes burst pipes? Probably not, but an ounce of prevention certainly wouldn’t hurt if you’re unsure about your plumbing situation. Plants, on the other hand, will need to be covered or brought inside, particularly if they’re susceptible to cold weather.

If you’re missing last week’s warmth, you’ll hopefully take comfort in knowing that the new year ushers in temperatures well above normal.

New Year, same winter warmth

A wind shift introduces warmer weather to Houston by New Year’s Day, even if that warmth likely won’t be felt at midnight with temperatures in the mid-40s. You may not need a coat if you’re sporting a tuxedo, but you’ll probably want something to cover up with if you’re donning a cocktail party dress.

After fireworks are set off and the bubbly has been poured and the morning hangover, Houston’s afternoon temperatures will reach 73 degrees Thursday. It’ll get even warmer Friday as temperatures top out near 80 degrees.

A weak cold front is expected to approach Southeast Texas late Friday into Saturday, though temperatures are expected to remain quite mild. The cold start to this week fits perfectly with the pattern that’s dominated Houston weather so far this winter: Sharp temperature drops don’t last long.

What role does La Niña play?

La Niña, which first emerged during the fall, occurs when waters near the equator in the eastern Pacific become cooler than normal. That major transfer of heat in the world’s largest ocean can influence weather patterns worldwide, including winter temperature swings in Texas.

TEXAS WINTER: La Niña could bring another warm, dry winter to Houston and Texas. Here’s what we know.

Texas often experiences warmer and drier weather during La Niña winters, though cold outbreaks can still occur, sometimes abruptly. A notable example: the 2020-21 La Niña winter started relatively mild in Houston but ended with the devastating statewide February freeze — a reminder that even warm-leaning La Niña patterns can still produce extreme cold.

Looking nationally at temperature patterns since Dec. 1, a La Niña footprint is evident. Above-normal warmth stretches from the West Coast to Florida, while cooler weather has largely been confined to the Great Lakes, the mid-Atlantic states and New England.

La Niña is expected to continue through the next month or two before transitioning to a more neutral state, which is when sea-surface temperatures return to normal. Until then, continue to expect above-normal warmth broken up by periodic, yet brief, blasts of cooler air.

After several months on Houston morning TV, a familiar face at FOX 26 is preparing to step away from the weather wall.

Freelance meteorologist Peyton Galyean announced Sunday that this will be her final week filling in at FOX 26 Houston, where she has been covering weather while meteorologist Allison Gargaro was on maternity leave.

"Officially my last week here at FOX 26 Houston," Galyean wrote on social media. "Allison will be returning from leave soon and Friday January 2nd will be my last day before I head back to Oklahoma."

Galyean joined the station in late September, stepping into the role as Gargaro and her husband, Gilbert Gimore, welcomed their first child, Chloe Jane, on Sept. 10.

During her temporary run at FOX 26, Galyean became a regular presence on weekend mornings, delivering forecasts on Saturdays and Sundays, along with select weekday digital and streaming newscasts. She’ll remain on the air throughout the week and on FOX Local as her assignment wraps up. "I'd love for you to start your mornings with me a final few times," she wrote.

For Galyean, the job carried extra meaning. She grew up in Houston and returned home for the freelance opportunity.

"Working in my hometown has always been my dream," she wrote. "Coming to work each day was definitely a surreal feeling."

Before her time in Houston, Galyean freelanced at KOKH FOX 25 in Oklahoma City. Her experience also includes work as a digital meteorologist at The Weather Company and a weather and climate internship at CNN. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Science in Meteorology at the University of Oklahoma.

As Galyean prepares to head back to Oklahoma, FOX 26 is also welcoming a new addition to its newsroom. Earlier this month, Karys Belger joined the station as a reporter after previously working as a multi-skilled journalist at 11Alive in Atlanta.