Coldest Weather of the Season and Heavy Rain Headed to the Concho Valley

SAN ANGELO, TX -- Cold and wet weather is on the way for the Concho Valley by Friday and a wintery mix of precipitation is forecast for the Big Country. 

According to the National Weather Service office in San Angelo, there is a 60 percent chance of rain with temperatures in the mid 30s Thursday night. 

By Friday, the rain chance increases to 90 percent with one to two inches of rain possible with high temperatures in the mid 40s. 

Friday night the temperatures drop to the mid 30s with an 80 percent chance of rain. 

Saturday the rain chances subside but temperatures will remain in the lower 40s so it's going to be cold and wet at Christmas at Old Ft. Concho. 

The NWS says an arctic air mass will move into the region Thursday afternoon, bringing some of the coldest air so far this season.

An upper level storm system will move across the area from Thursday night through Saturday. Lift associated with this storm system will result in widespread precipitation for West Central Texas.

Temperatures will be cold enough at the surface from Friday evening into Saturday morning to support a wintry mix of precipitation for areas northwest of a Sterling City to Abilene, to Throckmorton line.

Initially, a cold rain is expected. As temperatures fall Friday night, this rain may begin to mix with or change over to freezing rain or sleet at times for the area noted above.

The wintry mix may include some snow by Saturday morning as temperatures continue to cool above the surface as well.

Although we don`t expect significant accumulations at this time, roads may become slick and hazardous.

Bridges, elevated surfaces, and exposed objects like power lines will be the first to see any accumulations of ice should they occur. The farther north of Interstate 20, the better chance for accumulating wintry precipitation.

If travel is absolutely necessary for these areas, or to the north and west, caution is advised, but postponement of travel is ideal.

This is a developing story.