Meteorologists warn that an incoming winter storm might bring ice and snow to Texas by the end of this week.
The forecast comes after the Southeast saw unusually low temperatures last Friday and again on Monday, prompting cold-related weather alerts over nearly the entire state of Florida.
Related posts
Over the weekend, some areas in the Southeast saw unusually heavy snowfall. According to FOX Weather, freezing temperatures, snow, and ice are expected to impact a large area of the United States from Texas to Virginia later this week, with Texas and other Gulf Coast states most vulnerable to ice.
Winter Storm Uri blew over the region in 2021, killing at least 246 people and causing widespread power disruptions in Texas due to ice and cold temperatures. In the years since, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has improved. Despite the alarming prediction for this week’s potential storm, ERCOT stated that it would be able to meet the anticipated demand on the Texas power grid.
“The ERCOT grid is operating under normal conditions, and ERCOT will continue to monitor conditions through next week,” the council said in a statement, according to a report by Houston Public Media.
“It is far too early to assess the severity of any ice threat, but the pattern warrants close attention, as this is a classic setup for disruptive icing due to the combination of deep moisture and cold air,” said the FOX Forecast Center in a report.
Although the storm’s course and impact are unknown because it is still days away, FOX Weather reported that rain would fall south of the storm’s path, snow to the north, and potentially hazardous ice in between.
“A RARE Southern US Winter Storm is becoming more likely for Friday-Sunday, with significant snow and ice possible in Texas, Oklahoma, and across the Southeast,” account Max Velocity posted on X on Monday morning, sharing a screenshot of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model.
“Lots of details to work out here, but now is the time to be WEATHER AWARE. No need to panic buy all the toilet paper right now, as who sees snow and ice and WHERE this sets up is still a question.”
“Next weekend, Texas will have so many different colors on weather maps for snow, rain, freezing rain, and sleet with temperatures determining the mixture of frozen slop,” X-user Ryan Maue posted alongside a screenshot of the Global Forecast System (GFS) weather model.
Meteorologists shared early model guidance on social media, commenting on the winter storm possibility.
“Potential of crippling sleet and freezing rain late Friday into Sunday from Dallas to Houston.”
While it is too early for National Weather Service (NWS) offices to issue winter storm warnings for the system, the NWS office in Fort Worth, Texas, has posted information on the possibilities on its website.
“Confidence is increasing regarding the potential for a significant intrusion of Arctic air and impactful wintry precipitation from Friday into the upcoming weekend,” said the office. “Monitor the forecast closely over the next several days as we fine tune the details and start thinking about how you can Protect the 4 P’s: People, Pets, Pipes, and Plants.”
