Freeze Warning issued for communities north and west of Houston

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A strong cold front is sending a chill through Southeast Texas, and those strong winds could bring freezing temperatures north and west of Houston by sunrise.

While the strong wind could blow the freeze line to our northern and western counties, we're not forecasting freezing conditions for Houston at this time. That said, the wind will make it feel like the upper 20s and low 30s across most of Southeast Texas near sunrise.

The Freeze Warning is in effect until 8 a.m. Wednesday morning for Austin, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Grimes, Houston, Madison, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker, Waller, and Washington Counties. Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 degrees will be possible.

What cold weather precautions do I need to take this week?

Consider protecting any cold sensitive tropical plants and giving outdoor pets a warm shelter. Your interior pipes will be just fine. Lastly, dress warmly, especially Wednesday morning when the wind chill factor will drop into the upper 20s and low 30s. Frost will also be possible Thursday morning, especially outside of Houston.

What's in store for the weekend?

This weekend will be considerably warmer than last weekend. Instead of temperatures in the 40s and 50s all weekend, we'll enjoy highs in the 70s both Saturday and Sunday. That said, there is a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms on Saturday, but only a 20% chance for isolated showers on Sunday.

When could we get our first freeze in Houston?

While some north and west of Houston could get a light freeze the next couple of nights, Houston will likely miss out. After Thursday, we see no signs of freezing temperatures over the next 10 days in Southeast Texas. Long range projections indicate we'll have to wait until the last days of December for a decent chance of a freeze. On average, Houston's first freeze occurs during the second week of December.

13 ALERT RADAR MAPS:
Southeast Texas
Houston
Harris County
Galveston County
Montgomery/Walker/San Jacinto/Polk/Grimes Counties
Fort Bend/Wharton/Colorado Counties
Brazoria/Matagorda Counties

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