More Bitter Cold This Morning, Freezing Rain Later Today

Wind Chill Warning Remains in Effect until Noon Today with Bitter Cold in Place.

Freezing rain likely north of US 59 tonight into early Wednesday with accumulations of ice

Travel conditions will deteriorate this evening into Wednesday morning

Winter Storm Warning from 6 PM this evening along and north of US 59

10 Degrees at 7AM

As of 6 AM, my thermometer in Kingwood reads 10 degrees. A very cold arctic air mass filtered into place overnight. Temperatures throughout the region now range from the low to mid teens and even colder north of Conroe. But the worst is almost over.

Conditions Later Tuesday

Temperatures will improve somewhat throughout the day, but that doesn’t mean the danger has passed. According to Harris County Meteorologist Jeff Lindner, another upper level storm system will quickly approach from the west today and collide with a coastal low. Moisture will move northward into the cold air mass and produce freezing rain. Expect the freezing line to extend from Matagorda Bay to Downtown Houston to Winnie tonight and then slowly move northward on Wednesday. The exact location of the freezing line at any given time remains uncertain. But it will affect the type of precipitation you get in different areas throughout the storm.

“Expect ice accumulations tonight along and north of US 59 of .05 to .15 of an inch,” said Lindner.” Again, the most significant impacts will be to bridges and overpasses. But impacts to trees and power lines are also possible – especially for areas that get closer to the .10-.15 amounts.”

Warmer Wednesday But More Rain, Possibly Freezing

As the freezing lines moves north on Wednesday during the day, it will likely reach a line from Columbus to The Woodlands to Liberty. Freezing rain will likely change to rain for the metro area. Areas along and north of HWY 105 may remain below freezing for the entire event. “Expect significant and potentially extremely damaging ice accumulations of ¼ to ¾ of an inch in those areas,” says Lindner.

The freezing line will then move back southward Wednesday evening. Much of the area, except for the coastal counties will likely fall back below freezing. Yet another disturbance will approach and could produce a final round of light sleet or snow over portions of the area Wednesday night/early Thursday. Any left over water on roads from the Wednesday rains will likely refreeze Wednesday evening into Thursday morning.

For the complete National Weather Service Forecast, click here.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/16/2021 at 7AM based on info by Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist and the NWS

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