South Texas – An Extreme Cold Watch and a Freeze Watch are now in effect across much of South Texas as a surge of Arctic air is expected to bring dangerously cold wind chills and subfreezing temperatures this weekend into early next week.
According to the National Weather Service in Corpus Christi, the Extreme Cold Watch runs from Saturday evening through Monday morning, with wind chills expected to fall to 15–25 degrees Sunday morning and 5–15 degrees Monday morning. At the same time, a Freeze Watch is in effect from late Saturday night through Monday morning.
Forecast low temperatures Monday morning could drop to around 18 degrees inland, including parts of Webb, Duval, Jim Wells, and Inland Nueces counties, with lows near 25 degrees along the barrier islands. Affected areas include Corpus Christi, Laredo, Kingsville, Alice, Portland, Aransas Pass, Port Aransas, and San Diego.
Forecasters warn that exposure to these temperatures could lead to frostbite or hypothermia, particularly during the early morning hours. Freeze conditions may damage crops, kill sensitive vegetation, and harm unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Residents are urged to dress in layers, bring pets indoors, protect plants and pipes, and check on elderly neighbors. Officials stress using space heaters safely and never operating generators or grills indoors as the cold intensifies.
