Winter Storm Warning

...Arctic Cold Front To Sweep Across South Texas Thursday Afternoon...

 ...A Winter Storm Warning is in Effect for Refugio...Goliad...and Victoria Counties 2AM - Noon Friday...

 ...Winter Weather Advisory is in Effect for Bee...Live Oak...McMullen...La Salle...Webb...Duval...Calhoun...Aransas and Jim Wells Counties 2AM - Noon Friday...

 ...Potentially Dangerous Freezing Temperatures and Wind Chill Values Thursday Night into Friday Morning...

 ...Hazardous Marine Conditions - Gale Warning Thursday Afternoon Through Mid-Morning on Friday...  

An arctic cold front will blast through South Texas this afternoon, bringing sharply colder temperatures and wintry precipitation to portions of the region. Light rain is forecast to develop this afternoon and evening. Surface temperatures may cool to near or just below the freezing mark after midnight across most inland areas of South Texas. If this occurs, light rain will begin to freeze on surfaces with a combination of freezing rain and possibly sleet occurring. The greatest concentration of freezing rain, with accumulations between one tenth and fifteen hundredths of an inch, is expected to occur across the Victoria Crossroads, where a Winter Storm Warning is now in effect. Lesser amounts of freezing rain are expected across the Brush Country and portions of the Coastal Bend. At this time, precipitation across the eastern two-thirds of Nueces and Kleberg counties is expected to remain all rain as surface temperatures are expected to remain just above the freezing level. However, a few locations could have some light freezing rain or sleet early Friday morning. In addition, wind chills ranging from the upper teens to mid 20s can be expected over all of South Texas, making conditions potentially dangerous for people with exposed skin or sensitivity to cold temperatures. Conditions will improve by late Friday afternoon as any lingering precipitation should transition back to rain, temperatures warm above freezing, and winds diminish. Please stay tuned to the latest forecast from your National Weather Service in Corpus Christi, TX as it pertains to this evolving winter weather threat.  

In the Winter Storm Warning, ice accumulations between one tenth and fifteen hundredths of an inch.  (Please Note:  For South Texas counties, winter storm warning criteria for ice is only 1/8 of an inch or higher.)

In the Winter Weather Advisory area, ice accumulations up to a tenth of an inch are expected.

Impacts:  Any amount of freezing rain will lead to travel problems.  Elevated roadways, bridges, and overpasses will be at highest risk.  Timing of this event will coincide with the Friday morning commute, which may lead to additional travel problems. Additionally, with temperatures dropping to or below freezing for two hours or more across portions of the region, some damage is possible to temperature sensitive plants and crops, and pets and livestock should be protected from the cold. Going outside with exposed skin or clothing insufficient to protect someone from cold wind chills could result in health problems.  

Temperatures:  Temperatures will fall behind the arctic front into 40s Thursday afternoon with lower to middle 30s by early Friday morning.  Brisk northerly winds will result in wind chill values Thursday night into Friday morning in the upper teens to middle 20s across South Texas. High temperatures on Friday will only be in the middle/upper 30s to near 40 just along the Rio Grande Plains.

Hazardous Marine Conditions:  Deteriorating marine conditions will develop in the wake of the arctic cold front.  Northeasterly sustained winds between 30 and 35 knots will be likely, with gusts around 40 to 50 knots. Seas will build between 8 and 11 feet over the near shore waters and 11 to 14 feet over the offshore waters.