Polar Plunge

Forecast Discussion:

The much advertised Arctic cold front is a little over 24 hours away from arriving in Austin. A warm front has surged north all the way into Oklahoma and has opened the door for mild and muggy Gulf Air to return as evidenced by temperatures in the 60s/70s area wide (as of 4 p.m. CST Friday) and dew points in the 50s/60s. Areas north and west of Austin that have not been trapped under the clouds all day have warmed into the 70s and even 80s across a large portion of west Texas and southwestern Oklahoma thanks to a strong down sloping southerly wind feeding into an area of surface low pressure over western Kansas and eastern Colorado that has developed in response to a strong storm system currently digging south over the western United States.

As the upper level storm system currently out west continues to track east, it will nudge the surface low over Kansas to the east and open the door for the Arctic cold front to come plunging south into Texas.

Saturday Evening Arctic Front: Front arrives between 7-11 p.m. CST

Folks, this cold front means business! It will be bringing a 50+ degree drop in temperatures within a 12 hour time period. It will bring a near instant 15-20 degree drop in temperatures once it passes your location. You will know when it arrives as winds will turn sharply out of the north and gust between 25-35 mph. Those gusty winds will stay in place through the night Saturday and into the day on Sunday before relaxing by Sunday evening.

NAM 4 km Model Forecast Temperature Map: 9:00 p.m. CST Saturday (you don't have to know about weather to find this cold front!)

Forecast Breakdown:

Tonight: 60s | mostly cloudy & mild with patchy areas of fog and/or drizzle

Wind: SSW 5-15 mph

Saturday: 80°F | partly sunny and breezy with near record warmth

Wind: SSW 10-15 mph

Saturday Night: 27°F | Arctic cold front arrives with gusty north winds & rapidly falling temperatures. Wind chills drop into the teens by Sunday morning! Protect exposed pipes and plants.

Wind: N 15-25 mph G 30-35 mph

Sunday: 38°F | Mostly sunny, COLD, and windy (wind chills in the teens and 20s all day)

Wind: N 10-20 mph G 25-30 mph

Sunday Night: 24°F | Mostly clear & VERY COLD, area-wide hard freeze. Protect exposed pipes and plants. Upper teens in low-lying, out-lying locations.

Wind: N 10-15 mph

Monday: 42°F | Mostly sunny & cold; less windy

Wind: N 10-15 mph

Monday Night: 29°F | Mostly cloudy and cold, another freeze likely

Wind: NNE 5 mph