Tracking an arctic cold front:
After one of the warmest Decembers on record (we ranked 5th!), big changes are on the way. Temperatures are about to dive as a strong Arctic front moves in on Sunday.
Heads up! Most of the area faces a threat of severe weather Sunday. While the risk is lower along I-45 and west, it’s not zero, so don’t let your guard down. This is the same threat level we had last Saturday, but Sunday’s system is a bit less unstable. Even so, we’re keeping a close eye on the potential for damaging winds, and yes, a tornado or two can’t be ruled out.
The highest risk zone starts in northeast Houston, including cities like Cleveland and Livingston. Severe weather threats like this are a good reminder to stay alert and ready. Check the maps below for a detailed look at the threat area, and keep your phones handy on Sunday. If there are warnings our KPRC Storm Tracker 2 app will alert you.
How cold will it get?
Let’s clear something up; despite the buzz on social media, this is not pipe-bursting cold for Houston.
BUT our northern counties could see temps drop into the teens next week, so if you’re up there, make sure to protect exposed pipes. For Houston, it’ll be a cold stretch, with morning lows near freezing from Tuesday through Friday. Inside the Beltway, it could dip as low as 30° or stay as warm as 38°. Either way—it’s cold! And don’t forget, most kids are heading back to school on Tuesday and Wednesday, the coldest days of the week.
To top it off, there’ll be a wind chill early in the week, making it feel like the 20s across the area. I don’t need to remind you to bundle up, but I will tell you we haven’t had this kind of cold since early last year.
Will there be snow?
Getting snow in Houston is no small feat, it requires everything in the atmosphere to line up just right. Temperatures need to be at or near freezing, and low pressure must be perfectly positioned to generate precipitation.
So, what’s the latest? Well, Thursday was a buzzkill for snow lovers, the American model shifted the snow action to north and west Texas. Meanwhile, the European model has been sticking with its story: cold rain for Houston since last week. One tricky part of this forecast is timing. Morning temps will flirt with freezing, but by the afternoon, we’ll be climbing into the 40s. That means Thursday morning would be the best shot for snowflakes. But let’s be honest, the odds are slim.
Still, it’s not a total “no” just yet! We’ll keep watching the trends and updating you as we get closer to Wednesday and Thursday, our prime windows for any wintery fun and craziness. Stay tuned.
What you need to do:
Let’s talk about the 3 Ps - people, pets, and plants.
1️⃣ People: Make sure you’ve got plenty of blankets to keep warm, just in case the power goes out. (I’m not expecting outages, but it’s better to be prepared!) Check-in on your neighbors, especially the elderly, to see if they need help staying warm.
2️⃣ Pets: If it’s too cold for you to be outside for long, it’s definitely too cold for your furry friends. Bring them inside where it’s safe and cozy.
3️⃣ Plants: Protect those sensitive tropical plants—cover them up or bring them inside.
Harris County will likely be under a freeze warning starting as early as Tuesday morning. While this isn’t the deep freeze of 2021 or last year’s hard freeze, it will be the coldest we’ve seen so far this season. Stay prepared and stay warm.
