AUSTIN, Texas — Freezing cold weather is expected to move into Central Texas for the second half of the week, with temperatures dropping into the low 30s and wind chills making it feel a lot colder.
Widespread rain and a few storms are anticipated Wednesday afternoon and into the evening before an Arctic cold front that's moving in late Wednesday night into Thursday.
The storm is now arriving a couple hours earlier than previously forecasted. Here's a timeline of what you can anticipate.
Overnight Wednesday
An Arctic cold front brings cold air and causes temperatures in the area to plummet after rain and possible storms during the day. The drop in temperatures bring the possibility of wintry mix late that night into Thursday, made up of freezing rain and/or sleet.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for most counties in the KVUE viewing area for Thursday, Feb. 3, from 12 a.m. until 9 p.m. As temperatures take a dive, precipitation could switch over to sleet or freezing rain overnight and into the morning.
Potential ice accumulations could reach up to a quarter of an inch in the Hill Country and potential sleet accumulations could reach a quarter of an into to half an inch in the area. Wind gusts of up to 35 mph are possible as well.
Thursday
The cold front moving in overnight on Wednesday will result in temperatures well below freezing early Thursday, which could make the morning commute a tricky one with icy conditions possible.
The highest likelihood of freezing rain and sleet causing travel issues is west of Interstate 35 with impacts felt beyond that. Keep in mind that this is also subject to change. It remains to be seen how far southeast any impacts from icing will be felt.
Throughout the day, highs are expected to remain below freezing with the wintry weather and precipitation continuing. Then, as the evening approaches, the wintry weather subsides, leaving the area with below-freezing temperatures. A hard freeze is predicted for the area Thursday night.
Wind chills could make it feel like the area is in the single digits early in the day and throughout the day.
Friday
No wintry weather mix is expected for Friday, but freezing temperatures will continue Friday with high of only 35 degrees, just above the freezing point. Wind chills will continue making it feel like the area is in the single digits.
The morning will bring a widespread hard freeze that could make the morning commute difficult.
Saturday
The start of the weekend brings a slight chance of a wintry mix in the area with lows still well below freezing and highs in the low 40s. Morning temperatures will likely stay below freezing through Monday morning and the highs will begin to pass the freezing point sometime during the day.
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