From 60s to Snow? Tracking the Major Cold Front Headed For Killeen-Temple

Mother Nature may unleash her winter wrath this weekend in Killeen-Temple. Make sure you are prepared!

The National Weather Service Outlook

Over the weekend, social media posts began popping up, warning of a winter storm this coming weekend. It is common knowledge that some accounts will post extravagant claims for clicks, so many of the posts were ignored. That all changed Monday when the National Weather Service posted it’s thoughts on this weekend’s weather.

Monday’s Prediction for Weekend Weather

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth said Monday that a “significant Arctic air intrusion” will roll across North Texas starting Friday, including chances for ice, sleet and snow. The weather service is no longer asking if it will cold. It will. The question we now face is “how soon” will it get cold? Evidently, the social media weather posts over the weekend were on to something with meteorologists referring to a substantial shift in Sunday forecast models. The National Weather Serice in San Antonio said central Texas is also in the path of the arctic blast, saying "An Arctic cold front will change things drastically by the weekend, dropping highs into the 30s and 40s and lows into the 20s. This system also brings higher precipitation chances and the potential for a wintry mix, though forecast details regarding the exact type and location of precipitation are still being refined."

How to Prepare for Frigid Temperatures

The good news about this coming weekend’s arctic weather is that we have time to prepare for it in central Texas. According to the Texas General Land Office, the following list is a great way to prepare for a winter storm.

1.Wrap those outside pipes

2.Install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups.

3.Gather several days' worth of supplies (medicine, food, pet food, bird seed for bird feeders, batteries, flashlights, lighters, blankets, battery phone charger, water, propane for generator, fill up your gas tank).

4.Only use generators and grills outdoors and away from windows. Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.

5.Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from your fireplace

6.Make sure phones are charged

7.Have a heated water bowl for birds and outside pets

8.For barn cats, fill small dog houses with straw (not hay). If you have an old rug, place it over the top of the doghouse for additional insulation.

9. Layer your clothing. It is much warmer than a large sweater.

10.Keep water, non-perishable food, and an extra set of warm clothes in the car in case you get stranded during winter weather.