Colder Pattern Takes Over North Texas
The Big Picture:
A stalled storm system over New Mexico will set up a rainy pattern through Sunday morning. The upper level system is expected to hang over New Mexico before it finally breaks lose Saturday. Our best rain chances will be today and again on Saturday with occasional rain expected Friday. All North Texans will be impacted by the rain and a big temperature crash. Temperatures in the 40s with Wind Chill factors pushing near the freezing mark. Not everyone will be impacted by heavy rain or a severe weather threat.
Focus On Today:
A rainy, warm start today gives way to a rainy, cold end. Showers and storms will cover the North Texas landscape through the day, but temperatures that are near 70 for much of North Texas will take a tumble toward the 40s where Graham and Breckenridge were by 9 o'clock this morning along the cold front. This after being in the upper 60s just the hour before.
And to add insult to injury, the winds just behind the front gusted to 49 mph in Graham with 30-40 mph gusts for most of the counties behind the front. This prompted a Wind Advisory this morning for western portions of North Texas that has since been dropped. Strong winds are still expected just behind the front. Temps will tumble down into the low-50s and mid-40s during the afternoon and continue to hold in the 40s overnight. Wind Chill factors will be near the 30s.
The other part of the weather story: the potential for strong to severe storms mainly north along Red River Counties and east of the I-35 corridor. Wind damage and very heavy rainfall will be the two main concerns. A few isolated storms could possibly produce hail. Rainfall amounts of 1"-2" are likely with some of the storms especially in the eastern half of North Texas.
Today:
Temps tumbling 15-20 degrees in about a half hour as cold front passes. Winds pick up from the north 15-25 mph with much stronger gusts west. Spotty, heavy showers and embedded storms through evening rush hour. Temps 45-52 degrees with Wind Chills 30-40 degrees. Rain chance 100%.
This Evening & Overnight:
Area of showers and storms pushes south with 50% chances northern half and 80% chances southern half. Steady temps 40-45 degrees. Wind Chills 25-35 degrees.
Friday:
Remaining cloudy and chilly with highs 45-50 degrees. Rain looks to be focused mainly southern half of North Texas. Put rain chances at 30% for the northern half and 70% southern half.
Saturday:
Rain chances going back up to 60% as the upper level energy finally drives out of New Mexico. Mainly showers with a few embedded storms are likely from the midday hours through the overnight hours. Highs will be kept to the low 50s.
Sunday:
Morning clouds with a 20% chance for showers mainly east then mostly sunny with highs in the upper 60s by afternoon.