Texas braces for a winter storm: this is the forecast, timing & risks

Almost a year to the date from the last major winter storm that hit much of Texas, the Lone Star State braces for another winter storm. Many residents fear that this might be a repeat, but rest assured that although it will be cold and winter precipitation is forecast, it does not seem to bring a prolonged stretch of these conditions like the ones from February 2021. Nonetheless, residents should prepare to face some road closures, frigid temperatures, and possible power outages.

More than a foot of snow is expected across many areas of the Ohio Valley

The biggest difference from February 2021 event is that the weather setup is different. The weather pattern will be moving out of Texas soon, and there will not be a blocked pattern as it was in 2021. This will allow the temperatures to rebound and for ice and snow to melt.

About 70 percent of Texas is under a winter storm warning or advisory. As the storm moves over Texas, it will be pulling arctic air across the area. The cold air will arrive a bit delayed, so although the precipitation will likely start off as rain on Wednesday evening, it will quickly turn to sleet, ice, and then snow across northern and central Texas. In Southeastern Texas through the San Antonio area, there could be some freezing rain and ice building.

The most winter precipitation activity will affect the state on Thursday and weather will be clearing by Friday morning, from west to east as a high-pressure system build. There will still be a chance for rain and some light icing across South Texas as a disturbance moves over northern Mexico and causes it to persist on Friday.

The biggest chance of ice accretion greater than 0.10 inches is high along I-35 from Dallas through Waco to just north of Austin. From Austin to Corpus Christi there will be ice building, but it will likely not be much greater than 0.10 inches.

Over 2,600 miles across the United States is under a winter storm warning

Snow totals will be focused from Dallas westward to West Texas. Dallas could receive between 3 and 5 inches of snow, while the totals are expected to be between 2 to 4 inches to West Texas, along I-20.

Cities across Southeast Texas, such as Houston, will be mainly receiving rain. Temperatures could fall below or close to freezing briefly, which can make moisture freeze over plants, bridges, or overpasses. Light icing is expected as the rain will be moving out of the area by the time the temperatures fall.

Overall, southeast Texas could receive up to 1 inch of rain with this event through Thursday night.

The winter storm will bring slippery roads across much of Texas. The northern half of the state needs to be careful on the roads, but it is always best to just stay home and avoid dangerous conditions.

The snow and ice could break branches, which could also fall on power lines and cause power outages.

Breezy conditions could also lead to branches breaking off across central Texas, where the gusts could reach 25 mph at times. Across southeastern Texas, gusts are expected to be higher, which could also break weak branches, but will also make the temperatures feel much colder on Thursday. The breezy conditions will prevail across the south and eastern half of Texas through Friday which will make the temperatures still feel as if there were subfreezing from I-20 northward. Temperatures on Friday afternoon will be between the upper to low 40s for the southern half of the state.