How Next Week’s Cold Front Will Impact Houston

A wave of arctic air is expected to hit much of the United States next week, bringing freezing temperatures to areas from the Rockies and Plains to the Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard.

Houston and Southeast Texas are preparing for this cold front, and here’s what you need to know, as first reported by The Houston Chronicle:

1. Cold Front Incoming
   
   A strong cold front will sweep through early next week, pushing temperatures well below the seasonal average, which usually ranges from 43 to 63 degrees in the region. Houston is expected to see highs in the mid to upper 40s and lows around 32 degrees. However, the exact freezing line and how low the temperatures will drop remain uncertain.
   
2. Freezing Nights, Thawing Days
   
   While the exact timing of the cold front’s arrival and departure is still unclear, the forecast suggests freezing temperatures overnight with daytime highs rising above freezing.
   
3. Severe Impact Outside Houston
   
   Houston will experience the warmest temperatures in the region during this cold snap, relatively speaking. The most severe cold will hit the upper Midwest and the eastern U.S., while northern Texas is more likely to see extended periods of freezing temperatures.
   
4. Blame the Polar Vortex
   
   This freeze, like the one in February 2021, is due to the polar vortex, an area of strong winds circulating around the North Pole. On occasion, the vortex splits and sends frigid air southward into North America.