As an arctic mass of cold air is forecast to push through the Rio Grande Valley Thursday evening, there’s a chance that portions of Cameron and Willacy counties could experience icing or sleeting Friday night into Saturday morning, Barry Goldsmith, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley said Wednesday.
With the arctic blast set to arrive as early as 7 p.m. Thursday, Goldsmith strongly encouraged residents to prepare their homes, plants and pets for the cold weather that will bring “feels like” temperatures into the teens and 20s across the Valley.
“We are pretty confident that the high temperatures Thursday will be well into the high 70s across the Valley, but by daybreak (Friday) the feels like temperatures will range from 8 to 18 across the region, that is literally an 18-hour period that we are dropping 60 to 65 degrees,” Goldsmith said.
Goldsmith continually stressed the public to prepare for the cold temperatures prior to sunset Thursday.
The cold temperatures will continue throughout Friday, into Christmas eve and Christmas morning.
A hard freeze warning has been issued for inland Willacy and inland Hidalgo counties, while a freeze warning has been issued for Starr, southern Hidalgo, and inland Cameron counties, the NWS reports.
A hard freeze warning means sub-freezing temperatures as low as 27 are expected. The freeze warning means sub-freezing temperatures as low as 28 are expected.
The warnings will be in effect from 3 a.m. to noon Friday.
A wind chill warning has also been issued for the majority of the Rio Grande Valley that will be in effect from midnight Thursday until noon Friday. Dangerously cold wind chills are expected, with wind chills as low as 10 degrees above zero.
The temperatures on Friday will remain below 28 degrees in the lower Valley from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and then below 32 degrees until around noon in most areas.
“It is going to take a while for temperatures to get above freezing on Friday,” Goldsmith said. The sub-freezing temperatures will continue into Christmas Eve.
Freezes will last about 5 to 7 hours Thursday night, and 7 to 9 hours Friday night in Brownsville; 7 to 9 hours Thursday night, and 12 to 14 hours Friday night in the Harlingen and Weslaco areas; 5 to 7 hours Thursday night, and 9 to 11 hours Friday night in the McAllen area.
Along with the cold temperatures will be strong northerly winds along and IH-69 East and Highway 77 of up to 30 mph with gust of up to 40 mph after sunset. Gusts of 50 mph or more for a few hours east of IH-69E are also possible.
Goldsmith said these cold and freezing temperatures could cause hypothermia to people who are not use to the cold weather and people heading outdoors need to dress in layers of clothing.
“Wear a hat, wear gloves, even add a mask because it will certainly be needed in the strong wind Friday all the way into Christmas morning,” he said.
The frigid weather can also be deadly to livestock and pets and ranchers and pet owners are urged to provide warm shelter for the animals.
Goldsmith also pointed out that cold-sensitive crops, including citrus, are at very high risk due to combination of low temperature and very low humidity. Effective temperatures in the upper teens to lower 20s from pre-dawn Friday through late morning Christmas Eve could freeze the fruit.
There’s also a possibility that some areas of the Valley could experience power outages late Thursday into Christmas, with the areas at greatest risks located east of IH-69. “Anticipate this, ready your homes, and winterize your homes to be set for the cold weather home,” Goldsmith said.
The arctic blast will also cause flooding in some areas of coastal Cameron County, specifically State Highway 48 leading to SpaceX, Goldsmith said.
“State Highway 4 will be flooded by over wash from the South Bay area from late Thursday night into at least early Saturday,” Goldsmith said. “So, if you are planning to head out towards SpaceX or Boca Chica Beach you are not going to be able to get there late Thursday night.”
Goldsmith also said there will be a mass cold stunning event of sea turtles in the gulf waters since the water temperatures will be about 50 to 55 degrees. He said any rescue attempts of the stunned turtles will have to be probably on Christmas Day when the winds and waves recede.
