North and Central Texas are bracing for a powerful surge of Arctic air that will sweep into the region Friday evening, setting the stage for a high‑impact winter storm through the weekend. What begins as a cold rain on Friday will steadily deteriorate into freezing rain and sleet from north to south Friday night into Saturday. By late Saturday, parts of North Texas are expected to see a full transition to sleet and even some snow before the system finally exits on Sunday.
Forecasters warn that accumulating ice will be the first and most disruptive hazard, with ¼ to ½ inch of ice likely across much of the region and slightly higher totals possible in East Texas. Ice will glaze roads, trees, and power lines, creating hazardous travel conditions and increasing the risk of outages. As colder air deepens, sleet will take over—especially north of I‑20—where 2 to 5 inches of sleet may pile up between Saturday and Sunday morning. Central Texas will see lesser sleet amounts but still enough to cause slick roads and travel delays.
The wintry precipitation is only part of the story. An Arctic front will unleash life‑threatening cold, with single‑digit lows expected across the entire region this weekend. By Sunday night, wind chills could plunge to –4°F to –12°F, making even brief exposure dangerous. With the combination of extreme cold and the potential for power outages, residents are urged to take immediate steps to protect people, pets, pipes, and plants.
Officials stress that preparations must be completed immediately. Moderate to heavy icing will strain trees and power infrastructure, and travel may become difficult or impossible in some areas. Families are encouraged to assemble emergency kits, check on neighbors—especially the elderly or those living alone—and ensure their homes are ready for prolonged cold.
Residents should stock at least three days’ worth of non‑perishable food, water, and medications; bring pets indoors; update first‑aid kits; and fully charge phones and backup batteries. Homes should be winter‑ready with tested heaters, working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, insulated pipes, sealed windows and doors, and safe plans for using portable heaters or generators. Vehicles should be fueled and equipped with blankets, chargers, jumper cables, snacks, water, and an ice scraper.
A Winter Storm Warning now covers all of North and Central Texas, taking effect at 6 PM Friday for North Texas and 6 AM Saturday for Central Texas. Travel is strongly discouraged during the height of the storm. The same warning extends into portions of South‑Central Texas—including the Austin and San Antonio areas—from Saturday morning through Sunday morning. Freezing rain and sleet will spread across the Hill Country early Saturday, with ⅒ to ¼ inch of ice expected and isolated pockets up to ½ inch possible. Roads will quickly become hazardous, and temperatures will remain below freezing long after precipitation ends.
South‑Central Texas will also feel the full force of the Arctic air, with wind chills dipping into the single digits and lower teens by Sunday morning. Additional winter alerts may be issued as confidence grows in the storm’s southern extent.
Adding to the complexity, a Dense Fog Advisory remains in effect for much of South‑Central Texas through mid‑morning Friday, with visibility dropping below a quarter mile in spots. Drivers should slow down, use low‑beam headlights, and increase following distance.
Today marks the final warm day before the dramatic shift, with highs in the 60s and 70s. Fog and drizzle will give way to showers and storms later today and tonight—some of which may be locally heavy—before the Arctic front arrives and transforms the region into a winter landscape.
Stay tuned to KNCT for hourly weather updates, and visit myknct.com for on‑demand reports as this significant winter storm unfolds.
