Texas gets a brief reminder this weekend that winter is still very much on the calendar, even if the worst of last week’s winter storm is now behind us.
A cold front pushed through the state late Thursday night into Friday morning, bringing another round of north winds and noticeably cooler temperatures. A reinforcing surge of colder air arrives tonight into Saturday, keeping much of Texas chilly and breezy through the weekend. The key difference this time: no ice, no snow, and no winter precipitation issues expected.
What This Cold Front Means for Texas
Behind the front, north winds will increase tonight and persist through Saturday, especially across North Texas, West Texas, and the Panhandle. While this air mass is colder, it is not nearly as extreme as last week’s Arctic outbreak.
Saturday will be the coldest day of this stretch for much of the state. High temperatures may struggle to reach freezing across parts of North Texas and Texoma, while the rest of the state remains cold but dry. Wind chills will make it feel colder than the numbers suggest, particularly in the northern half of Texas.
Sunday morning will bring another widespread freeze, with most of the state starting the day below freezing. South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley should remain just above freezing.
No Winter Weather This Time Around
Unlike last week, this system is dry. There is no threat of freezing rain, sleet, snow, or freezing fog associated with this cold front. Roads should remain dry, and travel impacts are not expected.
The biggest impacts will be temperature-driven rather than precipitation-driven, which is a welcome change after the recent winter storm.
Fire Weather Concerns to Watch
Even after recent cold and wintry conditions, fire danger has not gone away. Dry grasses combined with gusty north winds will elevate fire weather concerns, particularly across South Texas, the Rio Grande Plains, and portions of the Gulf Coast.
While overall fire danger is expected to remain mostly low to moderate, conditions can change quickly. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged, especially today and Saturday.
When Does It Warm Up?
The pattern begins to shift on Sunday as winds turn back to the south. Temperatures will slowly recover, with a more noticeable warm-up arriving Monday.
By early next week:
- Much of Texas returns to the 60s and 70s
- South Texas could see highs near or above 80
- Overnight freezes become less widespread
This warming trend will be short-lived, but it will be enough to feel like a reset after the recent cold stretches.
Next Chance of Rain
Looking ahead, the next meaningful chance of rain arrives Tuesday into Wednesday, primarily across East Texas, Southeast Texas, and the Brazos Valley. Rain amounts look light to moderate at this time, with much of West Texas remaining dry.
No severe weather or winter precipitation is expected with this system.
Bottom Line
- Cold and windy conditions continue through Saturday
- No winter weather impacts this weekend
- Widespread freeze again Sunday morning
- Warming trend begins Sunday and strengthens Monday
- Next rain chance arrives midweek, mainly east
As always, you can track changing conditions, temperatures, and rain chances with the free Texas Storm Chasers mobile app or on our website.