Strong thunderstorms blast in with cold front Friday morning

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — We are in for a major temperature drop, gusty winds, and chilly showers to greet you out the door Friday morning.

A strong cold front will sweep through Houston Friday morning and leave the place feeling like winter for the rest of Spring Break. While the bulk of the severe weather will occur in North Texas, severe wind gusts, small hail, and a brief tornado cannot be ruled out here in Southeast Texas. That said, severe weather looks unlikely at this time.

The leading edge of the squall line could pack gusty winds over 60 mph and hail up to 1″ in diameter. While a brief, isolated tornado cannot be ruled out, tornadoes are unlikely. The threat for severe weather will end for you after the leading edge of the line passes your neighborhood, but rain will continue off and on for most of the morning. A few rumbles of thunder and small hail are possible even though temperatures will only be in the 40s!

A Wind Advisory is also in effect from 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday due to the strong northerly winds. It would be a good idea to secure loose items in your yard and use caution when driving high profile vehicles, especially on bridges, overpasses, and roadways oriented from east to west like I-10.

Between the rain and the strong winds to follow, we’ll hopefully get rid of most of the oak pollen still floating around in the air!

How cold will it get behind the front, and how long will the chilly air stick around?

Temperatures should drop into the 40s Friday morning, and when you factor in the north wind gusting up to 40 mph, it will feel like it’s near freezing over most of Southeast Texas! Temperatures will have a tough time climbing back into the 50s Friday afternoon because of the cold, gusty winds. High temperatures over the weekend should stay in the 50s with mornings in the 40s. Monday will be the last really cold day, and it will also bring our coldest morning with lows in the upper 30s.

Will my plants be okay in the cold air?

More than likely, yes. We should dodge frost and freezing temperatures, but any cold-sensitive plants, like tropicals, will not enjoy the cold. It would be wise to protect them from the cold or bring them inside if possible before Monday morning.

When does spring begin?

Spring begins at 4:24 p.m. Monday, March 20. However, it will still feel like winter. Warmer weather will return later next week when highs again top 80 degrees.