Texas braces for drastic temperature drop amid cold front, tropical storm

Now that August is behind us, it’s really time for it to start feeling like fall. While it typically takes until nearly the start of winter to really feel a significant cool down, a cold front sweeping across Texas is bringing the autumnal feels early. If there’s anything we can expect from Texas weather, it’s to expect the unexpected.

For the northern half of Texas – sorry Central and South Texas – there’s going to be a drastic, yet short-lived, dip in temperatures over the weekend. After 90- to nearly 100-degree days, highs will hover in the 70s and evenings might even be considered chilly.

Though, it’s that tricky Texas “fake fall” longtime locals are very familiar with, as temperatures will quickly climb again as the work week approaches. Plus, there’s a downside: That cooler air is bringing gloomy skies and the risk of thunderstorms with it.

In the Texas Panhandle, namely Amarillo and up to Dalhart, Friday, September 5, marked the beginning of a major cool down for the weekend. After reaching 97 degrees at the height of the afternoon on Thursday, afternoon highs in Amarillo dipped 21 degrees on Friday.

That trend continues through the weekend. Saturday shouldn’t break 75 degrees, and Sunday will still stay under 80. Evening temperatures could even require a jacket, dipping to the low 50s Friday night and upper 50s Saturday night.

Of course, these steep temperature shifts mean rain chances, as they often do this time of year. The National Weather Service warns of a roughly 30% chance of rain and thunderstorms on Friday, Sunday and even into Monday – a gloomy outlook that’s mirrored across several major cities in Texas this weekend.

“The arrival of a cold front Friday morning will see potential for showers throughout the mid-morning. More chances for showers and thunderstorms are expected to follow that afternoon and evening,” an NWS hazardous weather outlook for Amarillo reads. “Showers and thunderstorms will be possible from Saturday through Tuesday. At this time best chances for widespread activity remain Saturday night into Sunday afternoon.”

This cold front will also bring some cooler, yet rainy, weather to the Dallas-Forth Worth metroplex and North Texas. After 100-degree days, highs will drop to the low 80s Saturday and Sunday before inching their way back to 90 by Tuesday.

“A stark temperature difference is expected on Saturday compared to yesterday and today thanks to the incoming cold front, arriving later today. Temperatures tomorrow will be in the 70s and 80s with mostly cloudy skies much of the day,” the National Weather Service long-term outlook for the weekend states.

Evenings this weekend will be in the mid- to high-60s, which is a pleasant dip of about 10 degrees compared to the last week or so. But again, it’s all tied to some storm clouds. There’s anywhere from a 20% to 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms all weekend.

West Texas, particularly the Midland-Odessa area, won’t see the same level of cool down as their counterparts further north. But afternoons this weekend will finally dip below 80 – a nearly 10 degree plummet – and evenings will hover in the mid-60s.

It’s definitely not time to break out the fall and winter gear in West Texas yet. By the start of the work week, temperatures will hit the 90-degree mark all over again.

As is the case with most cities in Texas this week, thunderstorms and showers loom over the forecast this weekend. Odds hover between 20% and 40% between Friday, September 5, and Sunday night. Though, it’s looking like a sunny week in West Texas after that.

Unfortunately, San Antonio and most of Central Texas will have to keep hoping for a stronger cold front to sweep the Lone Star State before seeing any major temperature dips. Though, with afternoon highs hitting 100 degrees in San Antonio Friday and slated to peak at 91 the rest of the weekend, it’s a nearly 10-degree reprieve – not nothing.

In reality, Central Texas will mostly just see the wet weather impacts of this cold front with a light cooling effect. In San Antonio, the National Weather Service issuing an excessive rainfall notice earlier this week. There’s as much as a 60% chance of showers Sunday morning, but the rest of the weekend and Monday hover at around a 40% chance with some thunderstorms sprinkled throughout.