Dangerous cold to reach Texas: Arctic blast incoming

It will feel like the Arctic across the northern Plains while dangerous cold spreads as far south as Texas by the weekend. The deep freeze will be accompanied by a winter storm.

The dramatic change in weather is driven by a cold front diving south across the Plains, followed by an arctic airmass. This setup will sweep several waves of progressively colder airmasses southward.

The TemperatureRadar shows the coldest temperatures will arrive on Saturday and linger on Sunday. Highs as far south as Dallas will only be in the 20s after lows in the teens and single digits. To the north, temperatures will be even colder with sub-zero readings throughout the central and northern Plains.

Frozen pipes will be a growing concern across Texas in areas unaccustomed to freezing temperatures. Winterizing outdoor hose valves, opening cabinet doors under sinks and dripping indoor faucets will help prevent freezing and bursting pipes. Also, it is recommended to know the location of your home's water shut-off valve to stop water flow if a pipe bursts.

The extreme cold temperatures will also interact with a developing winter storm late Friday moving out of the Southwest. The WeatherRadar shows snow and ice will be possible across northern and central Texas and Oklahoma, while heavy rain soaks southern Texas.

This winter storm will move across the South and Southeast and up the Atlantic Seaboard on Sunday. It will bring snow and freezing rain along its entire path, possibly causing major travel problems from Atlanta to Boston. Weather & Radar meteorologists are tracking this system and will provide updates throughout the rest of the week and this weekend as weather forecasts become clearer.