Brown, Coleman, Comanche, McCulloch, Eastland, Erath, Callahan, Taylor and Runnels counties are among several more counties in a Winter Weather Advisory in effect through at least 6:00 am Thursday morning.

KOXE Radio Chief Meteorologist Randy Turner shared that temperatures during the day Wednesday should stay within a degree or two of freezing, 32 degrees.  As temperatures fall Wednesday night into the upper 20’s, expected rain and drizzle may change to sleet or freezing rain.

“The Winter Weather Advisory means Brown County area residents should expect slippery sidewalks and a glaze of ice on bridges, overpasses and elevated surfaces Wednesday night and Thursday morning.  High temperatures on Thursday should approach 32 but may stay below freezing all day,” Turner said.

But the weather gets even worse this weekend into early next week, according to Turner.

“It’s going to be bitterly cold.  Not very often will you see such a large Arctic outbreak affect Texas as what is forecast. It’s the coldest air in many years. The colder air will arrive here in the Heartland counties Saturday.  By Sunday morning we should be looking at temperatures near 10 degrees.  Highs are forecast to stay in the teens Sunday and Monday with lows in the single digits Sunday night and Monday night.  In addition, snow is expected Sunday and Monday,” Turner added.  “This could be an icy, snowy mess.  Power lines could fall, electricity could be lost for an extended period.”

Preparedness:

• Make sure faucets and pipes are wrapped and covered to withstand single digit temps.
• Make a trip to the grocery store for food and water to get you through next Wednesday should conditions be so bad that travel is not possible.
• Fill up the gas tank in your vehicle to avoid pumping gas in extreme cold.
• If you plan to travel, have extra blankets and some food and water in your car in case you become stranded.
• In your home, leave cabinet doors open to your sinks in bathrooms and kitchen to allow heat to get to your pipes.  Some people like to leave a slight drip from their faucet to keep water moving through pipes.
• Pets and livestock will need lots of extra shelter, food and water.
• Those with propane tanks should make sure they are full and can heat your home for several days of below freezing temperatures.

Turner said you can keep track of local weather through video weather updates on KOXE.com.