Parts of Texas to be colder than Alaska this weekend

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A powerful arctic cold front has moved into Texas, bringing freezing temperatures and the potential for snow across the state. In fact, parts of Texas are expected to be colder than Juneau, Alaska on Sunday morning, with Austin potentially dipping below freezing.

Why it matters

This winter weather event is impacting a large swath of the southeastern United States, with cold alerts and winter weather warnings in effect from Florida to the Carolinas. The dramatic temperature drop highlights the amplified weather patterns across the country, with surges of arctic air plunging deep into the South.

The details

The cold front arrived on the heels of an earlier winter storm that brought the first bout of winter weather to Texas this season. Temperatures in Austin are expected to fall into the low 20s on Sunday morning, colder than the normal late January average of 24 degrees in Juneau, Alaska. The freezing line has reached all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, with the coldest air concentrated over the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast.

• About a week ago, an arctic front delivered the first winter storm of the season to Texas.
• A dry arctic cold front moved across Central Texas late in the week, with frigid air now settling into the region.
• Temperatures are expected to fall into the low 20s by Sunday morning in Austin.

What’s next

The National Weather Service will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on the potential for wintry precipitation and dangerously cold temperatures across the region.