Corpus Christi, Texas – A rare and potentially damaging Arctic cold outbreak is set to sweep across South Texas beginning Saturday night, bringing hard freezes, dangerous wind chills, and widespread impacts to people, pets, plants, and plumbing through early next week.
According to the National Weather Service in Corpus Christi, an Extreme Cold Warning will be in effect from Saturday night through noon CST Monday for much of the Coastal Bend and Brush Country, including Corpus Christi, Victoria, Beeville, Rockport, Port Lavaca, Goliad, Refugio, and George West. Wind chills are expected to drop as low as the single digits above zero, while overnight temperatures fall well below freezing. A Freeze Warning is also in effect, with lows expected near 26 degrees Sunday morning and plunging to around 18 degrees by Monday morning in some areas.
Farther south and west, including Laredo, Kingsville, Alice, Robstown, and inland Nueces and San Patricio counties, cold weather advisories and freeze warnings will transition into an Extreme Cold Warning early Monday morning. Subfreezing temperatures may last for several hours, increasing the risk of crop damage, burst pipes, and power strain.
Emergency officials urge residents to take action now by protecting tender plants, insulating or dripping pipes, and bringing pets indoors. Residents should limit time outside, dress in layers, and check on elderly neighbors. Officials also stress safe heater use and warn against running generators or grills indoors.
The cold is expected to ease Monday afternoon, but additional advisories remain possible if freezing conditions linger longer than expected.
