DFW Weather: Arctic Blast & Wintry Mix Expected This Weekend

Weekend Wintry Mix Alert

• ⚠️ A WFA weather alert day is in effect for Saturday and Sunday due to a potential wintry mix.
• 🥶 Arctic air will move into North Texas starting late Friday night, bringing dangerous cold temperatures.
• ⏰ Temperatures are expected to be at or below freezing for approximately 61 hours, from Friday night until Monday lunchtime.

Precipitation Types and Timing

• 💧 Light rain is forecast for Wednesday and again on Friday.
• ❄️ Late Friday night, the precipitation is expected to transition to sleet and freezing rain.
• 🌨️ This wintry mix, potentially including snow, will continue on and off throughout Saturday.
• ⏳ The precipitation is expected to end late Saturday night, with a possible leftover flurry early Sunday morning.

Understanding Wintry Precipitation

• 💧 Freezing rain falls as liquid but freezes on contact with surfaces below freezing.
• 🧊 Sleet consists of ice pellets formed when rain refreezes while falling.
• ❄️ Snow is composed of frozen six-sided crystals that form in clouds and reach the ground without melting.

Temperature Forecast and Impacts

• 🌡️ High temperatures will drop significantly, with highs only in the upper 20s and low 30s on Saturday and Sunday.
• 💨 Wind chills are predicted to be in the single digits for some locations.
• ⚠️ Potential impacts include icy roads, bridges, and overpasses throughout the weekend.

Preparation and Long-Term Outlook

• 🏠 Residents are advised to prepare by considering the four Ps: people, pets, pipes, and plants.
• 👵 It is crucial to check on the elderly and ensure they have adequate heating.
• 📈 While this cold snap is significant, the duration of below-freezing temperatures (61 hours) is less than previous record events in 1983 and 2021.
• ☀️ Temperatures are expected to rebound into the 50s and 60s by early February.