Freezing temperatures are returning to North Texas just in time for Christmas.
The National Weather Service (NWS) predicted an arctic freeze would impact North Texas, bringing below-freezing temperatures, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
The NWS expects the arctic cold front to arrive between the morning and early afternoon hours of Thursday, December 22.
“Behind that, we’ve got some really, really cold air coming in alongside some strong winds, so it’s going to get pretty cold pretty fast throughout the day,” said Monique Sellers with the NWS in Fort Worth.
Temperatures are predicted to reach their lowest on the night of December 22 into the morning of December 23. These temperatures are expected to be between 8 and 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Dangerous wind chills” are expected to drop the temperature to nearly 10-below, with sustained speeds of 20-30 mph. Peak gusts of 40-45 mph are projected for December 22.
“Apart from that winter storm that we did have in February 2021, these are the coldest temperatures we have seen since the 90s in this area,” said Sellers. “So, it’s been a good 30 years or so.”
The coldest Christmas in the Dallas-Fort Worth area occurred in 1983 when the temperature only managed to reach 6 degrees.
Below-freezing temperatures are expected to remain through December 24. The NWS said there is a potential for these temperatures to stay through Christmas Day on December 25.
Currently, the NWS has not suggested that any precipitation will accompany the arctic front, and the chances of any are less than 10%, meaning that while it will be cold, Dallas is unlikely to have a white Christmas.
The lack of rain or snow, however, also means that little to no negative effects on travel plans are expected, coming as good news to the approximately 8 million Texans estimated to be driving during the Christmas season.
Nevertheless, the NWS advises citizens to winterize their homes and vehicles, bring pets inside, cover plants, and protect pipes.