HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A strong cold front is sending a chill through Southeast Texas, and those strong winds could bring freezing temperatures north and west of Houston tonight.
Temperatures will fall through the 50s the rest of this afternoon as low clouds and a brisk north wind linger behind the front. The wind gusts will increase above 30 mph this evening as even colder air blows in tonight. A Wind Advisory is in effect along the coast until midnight with winds gusting up to 40 mph.
The strong wind could blow the freeze line to our northern and western counties, but we’re not forecasting freezing conditions for Houston at this time. That said, the wind will make it feel like the upper 20s and low 30s across most of Southeast Texas near sunrise. The chilliest mornings will come Wednesday and Thursday with lows in the upper 30s for the Bayou City. Frost will be possible both mornings, especially outside the city.
The Freeze Warning is in effect from 3 a.m. to 8 a.m. Wednesday morning for Austin, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Grimes, Houston, Madison, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker, Waller, and Washington Counties. Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 degrees will be possible.
What cold weather precautions do I need to take this week?
Consider protecting any cold sensitive tropical plants and giving outdoor pets a warm shelter. Your interior pipes will be just fine. Lastly, dress warmly, especially Wednesday morning when the wind chill factor will drop into the upper 20s and low 30s.
What’s in store for the weekend?
This weekend will be considerably warmer than last weekend. Instead of temperatures in the 40s and 50s all weekend, we’ll enjoy highs in the 70s both Saturday and Sunday. That said, there is a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms on Saturday, but only a 20% chance for isolated showers on Sunday.
When could we get our first freeze in Houston?
If this week’s cold front comes in a little stronger than expected, a light freeze is possible north of I-10. Otherwise, we see no signs of freezing temperatures over the next 10 days. Long range projections indicate we’ll have to wait until the last days of December for a decent chance of a freeze. On average, Houston’s first freeze occurs during the second week of December.
