After a brief stretch of milder weather, Texas is set to experience its coldest temperatures of the season this week as an arctic blast moves in. The National Weather Service (NWS) warns that temperatures will drop below freezing across much of the state, with wind chills expected to dip below zero in some areas.
North Texas will see the first impacts on Tuesday, with freezing temperatures and the potential for light ice accumulation in parts of the region. The Dallas-Fort Worth area is expected to experience lows in the teens Tuesday and Wednesday nights, while daytime highs may struggle to reach freezing. Wind chills could drop as low as zero degrees.
The Texas Panhandle faces even harsher conditions, with highs only reaching the low 20s and overnight temperatures plunging to near zero. Wind chills could drop as low as -25 degrees, prompting an extreme cold watch from Tuesday evening through Thursday afternoon. Snow showers are also in the forecast, with some areas expected to receive up to four inches of accumulation.
The cold front will continue southward, impacting Central Texas by midweek and Southeast Texas by Wednesday night. Highs in Central Texas will remain in the 40s, with lows in the 20s, while Southeast Texas could see temperatures hovering near freezing.
Emergency Response for Winter Storm
As freezing temperatures approach, Governor Greg Abbott has activated emergency response teams to prepare for the severe winter weather expected across Texas this week.
Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to mobilize state resources in anticipation of the arctic blast. He is scheduled to meet with key state officials, including TDEM Chief Nim Kidd, Texas Department of Transportation Executive Director Marc Williams, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas, and PUC Chair Thomas Gleeson, to coordinate the response. A news conference is set for Monday to update the public on preparedness efforts.
The National Weather Service warns of plunging temperatures, with wind chills dropping to zero or below across North Texas. A hard freeze is forecast to extend south to the Gulf Coast, while parts of Central Texas, including San Antonio, could see freezing temperatures midweek. West Texas is expected to face the coldest conditions, with lows around 14 degrees through Friday.
Residents are urged to prepare for icy conditions, strong winds, and potentially hazardous travel as the winter storm moves through the state.
