An Arctic Blast is Just Hours Away

We have had a couple of cold blasts this winter season, but none quite as cold as what we are going to experience this week.

Before the cold air arrives, we will have to deal with some showers and thunderstorms, some of which could be strong in the early morning hours on Tuesday.

Our Futurecast computer model shows those storms forming ahead of the front as you are commuting into work or school.

Temperatures will actually start out on the mild side in the early morning hours on Tuesday. Most of us will be in the 60's, which is fairly warm for this time of year.

Our Microcast computer model shows that by 8am, residents in Houston county, in and near Grapeland, Crockett and Lovelady, will already be in the 40's. Everyone else further to the east, however, will be in the 60's.

However, once the front moves through your neighborhood, notice

how the temperatures start to plummet. We will see about a twenty degree drop in the temperatures in a matter of hours, courtesy of a very stiff north wind.

As you pick up the kids from school in the mid to late part of the afternoon hours, temperatures will have already dropped into the middle and upper 30's, as indicated by the image on your right.

People have asked me "will we see a wintry mix with this system?" The answer is no. It appears that all the moisture will move out before the really cold air filters into the region.

Brace yourselves for the cold and the wind. Blustery conditions will prevail for most of the week, with temperatures running well below normal for early February.

Keep checking back with us here on our blog and on KTRE-TV. We will keep you posted on our cold blast throughout the week.