A strong cold front is set to bring Houston its coldest weather of the season, with near-freezing overnight temperatures and the potential for patchy frost from late Saturday into early Sunday, forecasters say.
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The National Weather Service says this weekend, parts of the Houston area could see temperatures drop to near or below freezing as the season's coldest air moves into Southeast Texas. This will bring strong winds, patchy frost, and a short cold snap.
The National Weather Service Houston/Galveston office says a strong cold front will move through the area late Friday night or early Saturday morning. After it goes, cooler and drier air will spread across the metro area. By Saturday, afternoon highs will be in the upper 50s and low 60s.
After the front moves through, there will be strong north winds that could remain high all Sunday and Monday, making it feel colder than the temperature readings indicate.
Across most of the Houston area, overnight lows will drop into the upper 30s and low 40s. There is a chance that temperatures will touch or drop below freezing in parts of Montgomery, Liberty, and Chambers counties to the north and east of the city.
In its forecast, the National Weather Service said that "patchy frost" is likely, especially in inland areas along the Gulf Coast that tend to keep a little warmer air around.
There will not be a general hard freeze right now, but the best chance of freezing temperatures will be late Saturday night into early Sunday morning, when the skies should be mostly clear, and the winds should start to die down.
There is not much chance of rain with the front. It looks like most of the rain will stay north of Houston, just ahead of the front as it passes. The skies should clear up quickly after the front moves through, but strong winds may last through the weekend.
In the Houston area, there is no chance of cold weather, such as sleet or snow.
There might be a short freeze, but it will not last long. Forecasts say temperatures will rise again early next week, with highs returning to the mid-60s and maybe even reaching 70 degrees by midweek. By Tuesday or Wednesday, overnight lows should be back above freezing.
Still, weather forecasters tell people to take basic measures for cold weather. To keep plants and pets safe from the cold, bring pets inside when they are not outside and cover any visible pipes. Such precautions are especially important in suburban and rural areas, where temperatures can drop more quickly.
Southeast Texas will have its coldest night and morning of the season so far on Saturday and Sunday. This makes getting ready before the front comes even more important.
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