…A Winter Storm Warning is in Effect through 6 pm Thursday…

 …One More Round of Wintery Precipitation Expected Wednesday night into Thursday morning…

 …Very Cold Temperatures Expected Thursday Night and Friday night but Milder Temperatures Arriving this Weekend…

A significant icing event took place across the Hill Country and most of Central Texas early Wednesday morning. Ice accumulations of 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ice were common between Fredericksburg, Georgetown and Austin as a storms system brought rain to the region.  This new layer of ice, combined with lingering snow cover is making travel very hazardous.  To the east of Interstate 35, precipitation from this morning’s wave of low pressure was in the form of rain. According to LCRA’s Hydromet, totals between Bastrop and Columbus generally ranged between 0.25 and 0.75 inches.  An isolated total of 1.23 inches was recorded near Muldoon, in west-central Fayette County.

This afternoon’s weather is predicted to remain cloudy and cold as moisture flows into the state ahead of the next upstream wave of low pressure located over southern Arizona. Afternoon temperatures are forecast to remain nearly steady—in the mid to upper 20s across the Hill Country, in the low 30s across Central Texas and in the mid to upper 30s across the coastal plains.

The next wave of low pressure is forecast to move across the region Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Forecasts call for the development of a mixture or freezing rain, sleet and snow flurries across the Hill Country around or just after midnight. The activity is expected to spread east across Central Texas and the middle Texas coast late tonight through Thursday morning. All of the activity is precited to exit the region by mid-afternoon Thursday. The probability for precipitation will only be near 30 percent. Low precipitation amounts are forecast, with snow totals averaging below an inch. Mostly cloudy and cold conditions will be in place for much of Thursday. Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing across the Hill Country and Central Texas regions. High temperatures  will range from the upper 20s across the Hill Country to the low 30s across Central Texas to the mid and upper 30s near the coast.

An arctic cold front is predicted to sweep south across the region Thursday evening, bringing in a new push of very cold air. Winds are forecast to increase a range of 10-15 mph with gusts to 25 mph. With a clearing sky, lows Friday morning are forecast to be in the low to mid-teens across the Hill Country, the mid-teens across Central Texas and the low to mid-20s across the coastal plains.

Sunny weather and not as cold temperatures are predicted for Friday. Afternoon temperatures look to climb to the low and mid-40s. But it will turn quite cold Friday night. Lows Saturday morning will be in the mid-20s across the Hill Country and Central Texas and in the upper 20s across the coastal plains.

The weekend weather is shaping up to be mostly sunny with milder temperatures.  High temperatures Saturday will be in the upper 50s, warming to around 60 degrees on Sunday. Lows Sunday morning will be above freezing—in the upper 30s to low 40s. Lows Monday morning will be in the low and mid-30s.

The outlook for next week calls for mostly sunny, dry and mild weather as our region comes under the influence of a stable ridge of high pressure ridge setting up over the southern U.S.  High temperatures will be in the mid and upper 60s. Low temperatures will be in the 30s early in the week, warming into the 40s for the second half of the week.

Bob