TEXAS – As a powerful Arctic front moves into Texas, winter weather is expected to stretch beyond Houston, with different parts of the state facing snow, sleet or freezing rain over the weekend.
Forecasters say the type of precipitation Texans see will depend on how quickly cold air moves in and how much moisture remains in place. While snow will be limited to certain regions, ice and sleet could impact large portions of the state, making travel dangerous.
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In West Texas, colder air will be deep enough to support snow. Areas near El Paso and the surrounding region could see accumulating snowfall as the storm system moves through, making this one of the hardest-hit parts of the state.
Farther north, including North Texas and parts of the Panhandle, conditions favor a mix of snow and sleet. As temperatures fall below freezing, precipitation could quickly turn wintry, leading to slick roadways and reduced visibility. If heavy rain falls before the wintry weather moves in it could wash away some of the pre-treatments on the roads. The concern is that North Texas will see a layer of ice before they see snowfall. This will make roads very dangerous.
Across Central Texas, including the Hill Country and areas along the Interstate 35 corridor, snow is less likely, but freezing rain and sleet are a concern. Ice is expected to be the primary threat in this region, especially on bridges, overpasses and untreated roads. The threat here begins Saturday afternoon.
For Houston and Southeast Texas, the main threat is freezing rain, with no chance for accumulating snow. Cold rain will transition to freezing rain as temperatures drop Saturday night into Sunday, creating dangerous driving conditions Sunday.
Even South Texas, which rarely experiences winter precipitation, could see temperatures near freezing late in the weekend. If moisture lingers, some areas could see brief periods of sleet or freezing rain before conditions dry out.
Even small amounts of ice can have major impacts, especially in areas not accustomed to winter weather. Travel disruptions, power outages and hazardous roads remain possible across much of Texas as the system moves through.
Residents are urged to closely monitor forecasts, limit travel during freezing conditions, and prepare for rapidly changing weather as the cold settles in.