Sub-freezing temperatures likely this weekend for N. Texas

[TexasStooge]

The Dallas Morning News

Winter temperatures may finally arrive in North Texas this weekend, more than six weeks after the season officially began.

The National Weather Service is predicting a hard freeze Saturday night, with temperatures expected to dip into the lower 20s in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and into the upper teens in the region to the north and west.

Meteorologist Jesse Moore said the temperature will drop to 33 degrees on Wednesday night, and then reach a high in the lower 60s on Thursday. Friday’s high will be only in the mid-50s before a Canadian cold front moves in during the afternoon and the temperature begins falling.

The weather service puts the chance for rain on Friday at 30 percent, although the totals likely will be a quarter of an inch or less. It’s the only day with rain in the forecast for the next week, Moore said.

Moore expects a “dramatic change” in the weather by Saturday morning, when lows will be in the upper 20s. The thermometer won’t rise beyond the lower 40s later in the day, he said.

“Winter returns,” he said.

By Saturday evening, temperatures will drop below freezing and linger there for at least 12 hours before climbing to the mid-50s on Sunday afternoon, he said.

The Dallas-Fort Worth area has experienced little typical winter weather this year. January’s daily high temperatures were, on average, 68.3 degrees - a figure that broke an 83-year-old record. The normal high is 54.

This weekend’s temperatures will be far below normal, which would be highs in the upper 50s and lows in the mid- to upper-30s.

Moore recommends that residents take precautions with their plants and outdoor pipes, but said he’s not complaining about the cold snap.

“You need a certain number of hard freezes during the winter to knock down the bugs,” he said. “I want them dead.”

[Extremeweatherguy]

I am pretty positive that Dallas will be colder than the lower 20s. I am predicting at least mid teens for Dallas and the upper teens will probably reach as far south as Conroe. I think Houston hits the lower 20s with this. You may not hear on-air mets or the NWS saying this...but don't worry...they will eventually.

[Tyler]

I think upper teens for Dallas, it seems to be warmer than surrounding sites. suberbs mid-teens.

[Extremeweatherguy]

I think upper teens for Dallas, it seems to be warmer than surrounding sites. suberbs mid-teens.

I don't know. They hit 10-11 degrees during the December outbreak...so I think that mid teens or lower would be possible with this one as well.

[gboudx]

I had 10 at the coldest morning. That was miserable. Hope it doesn't get that cold again.

[TexasStooge]

Who knows, the DFW area could reach record lows this weekend.

[gboudx]

NWS has backed off big time on lows for Sunday morning. Last night they had 20, today it's 27. Still showing it to be Mostly Clear, so it's not they think it'll be cloudy to minimize radiational cooling.

[Extremeweatherguy]

NWS has backed off big time on lows for Sunday morning. Last night they had 20, today it's 27. Still showing it to be Mostly Clear, so it's not they think it'll be cloudy to minimize radiational cooling.

and the models have not backed off either. interesting...

[gboudx]

Yeah, DFW may be off with their forecasted low's. Norman has Ardmore with a low of 17, while DFW has Gainesville at 25. Will the Red River moderate the temps by 8 degrees?