Texas is about to bask in a lovely spring-like Friday, with high temperatures climbing into the pleasant 60s and 70s. I encourage you to make the most of this warm weather, as it may be a while before we experience such warmth again! On Friday, be prepared for some gusty winds sweeping across Texas. In fact, wind gusts over 40 MPH are likely, particularly in the western half of Texas, and over 60 MPH in the Guadalupe and Davis Mountains. With the warm temperatures, gusty winds, and dormant winter vegetation, we need to be cautious as the threat of wildfires will be very high in the western regions tomorrow. Any wildland fires that ignite could spread quickly, especially in areas where conditions align.
As we head into Friday night and Saturday, major weather changes are on the horizon. Winter enthusiasts might rejoice, but others may not be as thrilled! A strong arctic cold front will move south across Texas from Friday night into Saturday. Expect temperatures to plunge by twenty to thirty degrees behind the front, with brisk north winds creating chillier wind chill temperatures in the single digits and teens. It looks like the front will reach South Texas by Saturday evening, so the southern half of the state might enjoy one more warm day before the temperature takes a dive.
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Saturday Night Snow Chances
Light snow might make an appearance on Saturday evening as a quick upper-level storm system crosses over the Texas Panhandle. There’s a medium chance we could see up to one inch of fluffy snow, but it’s likely to blow around easily. Thankfully, we don’t expect a repeat of last week’s intense winter storm, as moisture levels will be limited and should keep snow totals in check.
Hazardous Cold Monday through Wednesday
Looking ahead, hazardous cold is in store for much of Texas on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. In fact, the northern half of the state may struggle to rise above freezing during all three days, with some areas facing two to three days below freezing. Overnight temperatures could dip close to zero in the Panhandle and into the teens across the northern parts of Texas. Any wind will give us dangerously low wind chill temperatures. Early Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are expected to be the coldest, with virtually everyone except the Rio Grande Valley dipping below freezing. While these temperatures will be chillier than last week’s cold snap, they won’t reach the extremes of 2021.
Snow & Ice Chances Monday Night & Tuesday
There’s also the potential for light winter mischief—think light freezing rain, sleet, and snow—Monday evening into Tuesday, particularly across various regions of Texas. However, we don’t anticipate significant accumulations due to limited moisture. If weather models shift drier, we may find it difficult to see much winter precipitation at all, which is definitely a possibility.
Otherwise, we’ll need to keep an eye out for light freezing rain, sleet, and snow. If it occurs, the very light snow would likely fall across the northern sixty percent of Texas, while areas further south might experience a mix of freezing drizzle, freezing rain, and sleet. We’re not expecting more than a few hundredths of an inch of freezing rain and likely less than one inch of snow. Even a trace of ice could create travel challenges, so we’ll be monitoring the potential closely. We should have a clearer picture of the forecast for this winter mischief by Saturday or Sunday!