Strong October cold front brings record-chilling temperature drop

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- On Sunday afternoon, temperatures were in the upper 80s across southeast Texas, with a heat index that made it feel like the low 90s. But all that changed when a strong cold front moved through Sunday evening.

Temperatures plummeted and landed in the 40s Monday morning with a wind chill that made it feel like the upper 30s. While a cool down like this is something Houstonians can expect or look forward to each fall season, this particular temperature drop was pretty significant for more reasons than one.
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First, after a record-warm summer and temperatures that were just in the 80s over the weekend, the fast-paced drop cool down might have felt like a shock to the system. And it turns out that this particular 24-hour temperature drop was the largest on record in October for the city of Houston.

Temperatures fell 43 degrees Sunday afternoon to Monday morning, from 89 to 46 degrees. The previous largest temperature drop on record for the city in October, based on observations from Bush Airport, was 35 degrees in 1980, when it fell from 85 degrees to 50 degrees from Oct. 27-28.

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Additionally, this cold front will pave the way for a chilly Halloween. Temperatures might only reach the upper 50s Tuesday afternoon. With a high temperature of 59 degrees for Tuesday, that would make this Halloween the fifth coldest on record for Houston, tying that of the holiday in 1949.

The coldest high temperature on record for Halloween in Houston was in 1925, when it only reached 47 degrees that day.



And these below-average temperatures for late October and early November will stick around for much of this week. And with a clearer sky and cold temperatures Tuesday night, temperatures might fall into the upper 30s by Wednesday morning. These conditions could lead to a patchy frost developing north of the city on Wednesday morning.

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SEE ALSO: Bringing out the space heater? HFD gives tips on how to stay safe during upcoming cold months