A polar vortex is expected to bring freezing temperatures to North Texas, with the coldest days likely on Monday and Tuesday.
Polar Vortex to Bring Freezing Temperatures to North Texas
The signs of true ARCTIC air are in our future. All major models agree by Sunday night that upper level flow will be coming from the far northern reaches of the Northwest Territories and the Yukon in Canada. It doesn’t power down right away, but takes over on Sunday and kicks into high gear with the coldest days likely on Monday and Tuesday here in NTX.
Cold Snap Ahead
Most of the nation is in good shape on Wednesday and will be warmer on Thursday. The arctic air is coming, but not yet. The center of the polar vortex is not coming to Texas, but it will funnel cold air down from the North Police, so it will keep us well below average next week.
The polar vortex, a band of strong winds that circles the North Pole, will send a blast of arctic air to Texas. The good news is the center of the polar vortex is staying in Canada. It is not coming to Texas. Between now and then, it will come in shifts.
What We Know
Wednesday and Thursday will be beautiful weather. Wednesday we will have a north wind, sun, and the 50s this afternoon. Thursday will start near freezing with a few clouds but will turn warmer with a west wind. It will be light winds and temperatures in the 60s.
Friday marks the beginning of two systems that will impact North Texas. The first is a Pacific system that will be racing in but weakening at the same time, throwing clouds across the area along with stronger south winds. This will stay mild, but you may not feel it as much as you could thanks to cloud cover and wind.
Preparation is Key
Saturday will see the first piece of cold air arrive by sunrise, bringing mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the 40s with gusty north winds and wind chills in the 30s. The next piece comes in on Saturday night, preceded by some lift to produce extra clouds and a few flurries.
What’s to Come
Sunday looks mostly sunny, so at least the sun will try to balance the ARCTIC air coming in. Temps will get back above freezing in the sun but wind chills will stay in the 20s all day. Precipitation is not set in stone yet, but map #2 (GFS) has a small “appendage” that could bring snow.
The Weekend Forecast
On MLK Day and Inauguration Day, the sun will be fading behind increasing clouds which will limit warming and barely get us back to freezing. We will be lucky if we have a couple of hours above freezing. It will be very cold with east winds coming off an ARCTIC high pressure area.
The atmosphere will be so cold that if there is any precipitation next week, it will be snow. There won’t be ice or sleet or rain. That would come Monday night into Tuesday.
Snow Chances
From Monday night into Tuesday, there are indications that a storm could develop in the southern branch of the jet stream and actually track SOUTH of our area. This could mean better snow chances in central or south Texas versus up here.
Three things to know:
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The atmosphere will be cold enough at all levels to support snow as the precipitation type.
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The cold, dry air would only support light snow.
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It’s 7 days away, and trying to pinpoint anything is impossible.
