A cold front will push through Southeast Texas overnight and will move off the coast prior to sunrise on Sunday. Much colder and breezy conditions are expected in the wake of the front with prevailing NE winds. The potential for freezing temperatures across portions of SE Texas is increasing, and includes an area roughly north of a line from High Island to Columbus. A Freeze Watch has been issued for this area for Sunday night through Monday morning. While freezing temperatures are still expected, the Freeze Watch does exclude Madison, Walker, Houston, Trinity, and Polk Counties as these counties previously experienced a freeze this season. Â
Hazardous marine conditions are also expected. Patchy sea fog might develop ahead of the front tonight, but will clear out with the wind shift. In the wake of the front. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for all the waters beginning 4 AM Sunday. The Advisory will continue for the bays and nearshore waters through 3 AM Monday. For the offshore waters beyond 20nm, the Small Craft Advisory will be in effect through 9 AM Sunday, after which it may need to be upgraded to a Gale Warning (a Gale Watch is currently in effect through late Sunday night).Â
Regarding the Small Craft Advisory, winds will be out of the north to northeast at 20-25 knots with gusts up to 35 knots. Seas will build to 5-7 feet with rough bays. For the Gale Watch, winds will be out of the northeast at 30 knots with gusts up to 40 knots. Seas will build to 7 to 10 feet.Â
