A major winter storm is now actively impacting Texas, and conditions are going downhill quickly for a large portion of the state.
The Arctic cold front is running ahead of schedule, which is never what you want to see with a winter storm setup in Texas. As colder air pours south faster than earlier forecasts indicated, the freezing line is advancing more aggressively into Central and South Texas, increasing the threat of ice, sleet, and snow across a wider area.
This is no longer a “wait and see” situation for much of the state. Impacts are already underway tonight, and the most dangerous conditions are expected from late Friday through Sunday morning, with lingering problems into early next week.
Freezing Line Moving South Faster Than Expected
As of Friday evening, temperatures have already dropped well below freezing across the Panhandle, West Texas, the Big Country, Texoma, and much of North Texas. Freezing rain and sleet are being reported in several locations, and the freezing line continues to push south through the Hill Country overnight.
By early Saturday morning, areas north of Interstate 10 will largely be below freezing. That matters because once surface temperatures fall below about 30 degrees, ice begins forming rapidly on bridges, overpasses, and untreated roads. Below 28 degrees, ice can accumulate on nearly all surfaces.
With the cold air arriving sooner than earlier forecasts suggested, there is now more time for winter precipitation to fall as ice, which increases the overall impact potential.
Two Waves of Winter Weather
This storm is unfolding in two distinct phases.
The first wave is ongoing tonight into Saturday morning, bringing freezing rain, sleet, and snow across the northern half of Texas, while areas farther south see rain and thunderstorms ahead of the front.
The second and more impactful wave arrives Saturday night into Sunday morning. This is when widespread freezing rain, sleet, and snow are expected across much of Central, North, and East Texas. This round is expected to affect the most people and produce the most hazardous travel conditions.
Once precipitation ends Sunday, conditions will not improve quickly due to the extreme cold that follows.
Ice Storm Concerns Growing
Ice is the biggest concern with this system.
Freezing rain is especially dangerous because it sticks efficiently to tree branches and power lines. As ice accumulates, the added weight can cause limbs to snap and power lines to sag or fail. When ice totals reach a quarter inch or more, the risk of power outages increases significantly.
Current trends suggest the potential for damaging ice accumulations across parts of North Texas, the Brazos Valley, Central Texas, the Hill Country, East Texas, and Northeast Texas. In some areas, ice totals could exceed one-half inch, which would be enough to cause scattered to widespread power outages.
If precipitation falls more as sleet instead of freezing rain, power impacts would be less severe, but road conditions would still be extremely dangerous. Either way, travel becomes a major problem.
Snow and Sleet in the Panhandle and West Texas
While ice dominates farther south, snow is the primary concern in the Panhandle and parts of West Texas.
Several inches of snow are expected, with localized totals potentially exceeding a foot where snowfall remains dominant. Gusty winds will create blowing snow, further reducing visibility and making travel nearly impossible at times.
Farther south and east, snow may mix with sleet, leading to a hard-packed, icy surface that is difficult to clear and slow to improve.
Bitter Cold Follows the Storm
Even areas that avoid significant winter precipitation will feel the effects of this system due to the cold alone.
Temperatures will drop into the single digits and teens across much of Texas Saturday night through Monday morning. Wind chills will be well below zero in parts of the Panhandle, West Texas, and North Texas.
Monday morning appears to be the coldest period, with a hard freeze statewide, including South Texas. This level of cold raises concerns for exposed pipes, pets, livestock, and anyone without reliable heat.
Any melting that occurs during the day will refreeze each night, prolonging icy road conditions well into early next week.
Travel Strongly Discouraged
Travel across the northern half of Texas is expected to be dangerous to nearly impossible at times from tonight through at least Monday.
Even areas that see only light ice or sleet can experience severe impacts, especially on bridges, overpasses, and elevated roadways. Road conditions are likely to deteriorate quickly overnight and may not improve for several days.
Before traveling, check real-time road conditions at DriveTexas.org, and strongly consider delaying non-essential travel.
What You Should Do Now
This is the time to shift from watching forecasts to preparing.
If you live in an area under a Winter Storm Warning or where freezing rain is expected, plan for the possibility of power outages. Make sure you have multiple layers of clothing, blankets, flashlights, and a way to stay warm if electricity is lost.
Protect exposed pipes, bring pets indoors, and check on neighbors who may need assistance. If you lose power, conserve heat and avoid unnecessary travel.
Ongoing Updates
Conditions are evolving rapidly, and small changes in temperature can make a big difference in impacts.
Texas Storm Chasers will continue providing frequent updates through our website, mobile app, and live YouTube coverage as this storm unfolds.
You can get your local forecast, interactive radar, and the latest warnings in the free Texas Storm Chasers mobile app, available now.
Stay informed. Stay prepared. This is a serious winter weather event, and we’ll get through it together.