‘Wind is going to make it way worse.’ Here’s the latest on Arctic cold coming to North Texas

An Arctic cold front bringing dangerously cold temperatures is expected to arrive in the Fort Worth area Thursday morning, officials said.

“It’s going to be coming in quick and hard,” said Hunter Reeves, a spokesperson for the National Weather Service.

Reeves said 20 to 30 mph winds and 35 to 45 mph gusts are expected to arrive around 9 a.m. Thursday and continue through Thursday night.

The wind chill values could range from minus-2 to minus-15 degrees Thursday, according to the National Weather Service forecast. Temperatures will continue to fall throughout the day.

“The wind is going to make it way worse,” Reeves said.

There is a wind chill watch from the National Weather service in effect for all of North and Central Texas from Thursday morning through Friday morning.

According to Reeves, the lowest temperatures will hit the area Friday morning with the actual temperature dropping to 10 degrees or even into the single digits. The wind chill could be as low as 15 below zero.

For those who need a place to warm up, Fort Worth public libraries and community centers will be open through Friday, according to the city of Fort Worth. Pregame activities have been canceled at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Fans are allowed to bring blankets to the game.

To prevent pipes from bursting, the Texas Department of Insurance recommends Texans wrap all exposed outdoor and indoor pipes, open cabinets under sinks and let faucets drip.

Cold temperatures bring a risk of frostbite and hypothermia. MedStar Mobile Healthcare advises those who have to be outdoors to cover their face and mouth and dress in layers of loose-fitting clothing.

Reeves said pets should be brought indoors and loose outdoor items should be secured ahead of the expected winds.

According to the National Weather Service forecast, there is a 10% chance of a light rain/snow mix along the Red River and in East Texas on Thursday morning. Reeves said any precipitation should be minimal and won’t affect travel.

Reeves said right now the Arctic air is “bottled up” in Canada, but will eventually get loose and head south. Most of the United States will experience lower than normal temperatures over the next few days.

By the afternoon of Christmas Day, the high is predicted to be back in the 40s.

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Holiday Travel

Reeves recommends those who are hitting the road over the next few days dress warmly in layers and inflate their tires as cold weather tends to lower tire pressure.

According to the Family Handyman website, ideal tire pressure is typically 30 to 35 psi.

The cold front in Texas will stretch from Sherman to Waco, Reeves said, but most other parts of the continental United States are in line for severe weather in the days leading up to Christmas.

Nearly 70 million people are under storm watches, advisories and warnings across the U.S., according to the Washington Post.

The National Weather Service said the storm system is “significant and disruptive” and expected to “produce a multitude of weather hazards,” including extreme cold, strong winds and heavy snowfall in parts of the country.

Heavy snow is expected in the Midwest and Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes could see more than a foot of snow between Wednesday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service.