Cold Front Bringing Freezing Nights Then Rain Mid Week

SAN ANGELO – A strong cold front will drop temperatures below freezing Saturday and Sunday nights across the Concho Valley and most of West Texas, then rain chances increase next week,  

The Edwards Plateau and Hill Country are in elevated fire weather conditions this afternoon as gusty north winds converge with a dry air mass with the passage of a cold front. Wind speeds are projected to diminish rapidly post-sunset.

That cold front will sweep through the region today, causing temperatures to drop. Anticipate mid-50s in the northern Big Country with mid to upper 60s down along I-10. Persistent gusty north winds will keep colder temps throughout the day, although surface winds should gradually diminish late, coinciding with the influx of surface high pressure.

Tonight presents ideal conditions for radiational cooling with sparse clouds and a dry air mass allowing temps to drop rapidly below freezing. The extent of temperature decline hinges on wind speeds, but a freeze is forecast for most areas tonight, likely dipping a couple of degrees below freezing in the upper 20s.

Sunday will see another cold night due to a weakening surface high pressure system, fostering optimal radiational cooling alongside an extremely dry air mass. The southeast region of the area will experience the coldest temperatures, with lows in the upper 20s to lower 30s, potentially dropping a few degrees lower by Monday morning. Northern and western areas can expect temperatures around or slightly above freezing, complemented by developing light south winds. Early next week should see a gradual temperature increase, with highs reaching the 60s. The forecast maintains a dry outlook through Tuesday.

Mid to late next week, a shift in the weather pattern is expected across west-central Texas, introducing increased rain chances. An upper-level trough of low pressure will lead to a chance of likely rain events from Wednesday through Friday, with Thursday holding the highest probability due to reinforced upper-level support and escalating moisture content.

However, uncertainty persists regarding rainfall amounts, as the event's position is several days away. The Weather Prediction Center forecasts 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rainfall across our area from Wednesday through Friday, with the Concho Valley and Big Country anticipating the highest amounts.