A sharp blast of winter is settling over North and Central Texas, and the region is gearing up for a bitterly cold start to the weekend. A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect from midnight Friday night through 11 AM Saturday, covering every county from the Red River to the Hill Country. Wind chills will be the biggest concern, with North Texas feeling like 0 to 9 degrees and Central Texas dropping into the 7 to 15‑degree range. Officials urge everyone to bundle up, limit time outdoors, and make sure pets are safely indoors.
Friday brings the first signs of the cold shift. Afternoon temperatures will hold in the 40s to lower 50s, but a strong cold front arriving tonight will send readings tumbling. North winds will strengthen overnight, pushing temperatures into the teens and 20s and driving wind chills down to 0–15 degrees by early Saturday. The advisory remains in effect through mid‑morning Saturday as the coldest air settles in.
Saturday will be the coldest day of the stretch, with highs struggling to reach the freezing mark for many locations. By Saturday night, temperatures fall again into the upper teens and lower 20s, setting the stage for a hard freeze across much of the region. The good news: a quick warm‑up arrives early next week, with highs rebounding into the 60s by midweek. Rain chances return late Tuesday, mainly for areas along and east of I‑35.
Farther south, the Austin and San Antonio region will also feel the sting of the cold. North winds of 10 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph, will keep highs in the mid‑50s to low 60s today—slightly below normal for late January. Tonight turns windy and colder, with lows dipping into the 30s to low 40s and wind chills falling into the low to mid‑20s across eastern counties and 30s to low 40s farther west. Another reinforcing front arrives Saturday morning, sending temperatures sharply downward and setting up a hard freeze by Sunday morning.
Along and north of I‑10/U.S. Highway 90, a separate Cold Weather Advisory runs from 3 AM to 10 AM Saturday. Actual lows will range from 20 to 30 degrees, but wind chills will make it feel more like 13 to 20 degrees.
With several rounds of cold air on the way, now is the time to Protect the 4 Ps: People, Pets, Plants, and Pipes.
People
- Limit time outdoors and dress in layers.
- Prepare for possible power outages.
- Check on elderly neighbors and anyone vulnerable to the cold.
Pets
- Bring pets indoors or provide warm, dry shelter.
- Make sure food and water don’t freeze.
- Keep outdoor time brief and consider pet sweaters or jackets.
Pipes
- Insulate exposed pipes where possible.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate.
- Disconnect hoses and shut off sprinkler systems.
Plants
- Know which plants are sensitive to freezing temperatures.
- Cover them before the cold arrives to help retain heat.
As Texas braces for a frigid weekend, staying prepared and protecting loved ones—two‑legged and four‑legged—will make all the difference. Warmer days are on the horizon, but winter is making its presence known first.
