These days, whenever Texans hear about temperatures dropping to anywhere near freezing, the news immediately triggers memories of the disastrous freeze of February 2021, in which ice and snow snapped power lines and made roads impassable, and the plunging temperatures strained the state's power grid to the point of collapse.
The bad news: Texas temperatures are going to plummet to subfreezing levels again this week. The better news: It's not going to be like 2021, forecasters say.
The Austin area got an early taste of the frigid temperatures early Sunday, when Travis, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell counties were under a freeze warning. Some of the coldest readings recorded by the National Weather Service on Sunday were:
- 22 degrees in Leander in southern Williamson County at 6:15 a.m.
- 22 degrees (a daily record) at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in southeastern Travis County at 6:53 a.m.
- 21 degrees in Dripping Springs in northern Hays County at 7:46 a.m.
- 26 degrees in Dale in Caldwell County at 6:58 a.m.
- 23 degrees near Cedar Creek in western Bastrop County at 7:25 a.m.
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Forecasters said they remain uncertain about the timing and the geographical extent of the coldest air coming later this week. But unlike the weeklong misery produced by that February freeze in 2021, the frigid conditions later this week shouldn't include any precipitation and could subside by Christmas.
What do we know so far about the Austin freeze?
"A strong arctic cold front will move across our area on Thursday," the National Weather Service said in a bulletin Sunday. "This will bring the coldest temperatures this season, thus far."
Forecasters expect multiple freeze warnings and wind chill advisories this week for South-Central Texas, especially with the possibility of overnight low temperatures sinking into the teens and 20s on Thursday and Friday nights.
"Now is the time to prepare for bitterly cold air," the weather service said in its bulletin. "Remember the four P's to protect your plants, pipes, pets and people for the extreme cold air."
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What will Austin weather be like in the next few days?
Daytime temperatures in the Austin area should climb into the upper 50s on Monday, as a system of low atmospheric pressure off the South Texas gulf coast will generate some showers along and east of the Interstate 35 corridor, forecasters said.
Austin's outlook for Monday calls for a 60% chance of rain before 10 a.m. with a high temperature of 53. As much as a quarter-inch of rainfall is possible, the weather service said.
Dry and cold conditions will set in starting Tuesday, which is expected to be partly sunny with a high of 59. Brace for north-northeast winds of 5 to 10 mph that could include gusts as strong as 20 mph.
The return of moisture-rich air from the east-southeast means more clouds Wednesday, when temperatures could climb to 58 degrees. Conditions will shift after midnight.
When will the freeze start?
"A very cold polar air mass will push south through the Central (U.S.) Plains Wednesday night into Thursday morning," weather service meteorologist Matt Brady wrote in a forecast Sunday, adding that "regardless of the timing, temperatures will quickly plummet to below freezing behind the front."
Low temperatures Friday are likely to drop into "the teens to lower 20s across the area with the lower values in the Hill Country," he wrote.
"The I-35 corridor will likely see lows in the 17- to 20-degree range," Brady wrote. "Winds behind the front will be strong as well, around 20 mph with higher gusts and this will possibly lead to wind chill values Friday morning in the minus-5 to 12-degree range."
How cold will it get in Austin?
Austin on Thursday should be mostly sunny with daytime temperatures rising to as high as 56 degrees. Winds turn into chilly northerly breezes of 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon with gusts as strong as 30 mph. In the evening, mostly clear skies will allow radiant surface heat acquired during the day to escape, which will help temperatures sink to a forecast low of 21 degrees.
Friday's outlook for Austin includes sunny skies, but temperatures will stay below 36 degrees, forecasters said. At night, mostly clear skies will contribute to a low of 23.
By Saturday, mostly sunny skies will accompany daytime temperatures climbing back into the 40s.
How to prepare for a freeze
The threat of an extended freeze means protecting the four P's:
- Protect exposedpipes.
- Pull in sensitiveplants.
- Petsshould be brought inside.
- Pop in and check onpeoplewhose health or age make them particularlyvulnerable to extreme weather.
The Austin Fire Department offers these tips as well:
- Allow room forspace heaters. Place themfar away from anything that could burn.
- Gas-powered portable generators should always be well outside thehome to avoidthe risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Don't ever use your oven or a barbecue grill as a heater.
The Texas Department of Public Safety also has tips for drivers facingfreezing rainand sleet this week, including:
- Avoid traveling when sleet or freezing rain is expected.
- If you must drive,allow extra time to reach your destination. Share your travel plans with a friend or family member so someone knows your route.
- On slick roads, drive slowly and increase the distance between your vehicle and others to give yourself moreroom to stop.
Drivers should consider keepingthese emergency supplies in their vehicles:
- A blanket or extra clothes, gloves and a hat.
- A cellphone, a radio, a flashlight, extra batteries and a phone charging cord.
- Jumper cables and rope.
