A strong cold front will blow across Southeast Texas this afternoon through the overnight hours. Two rounds of precipitation are expected, one along the leading edge of the front and a second behind the leading edge of the front. Strong northerly winds are expected in the wake of the front. Low temperatures tonight and Thursday night will fall into the low 30s to mid-40s. Wind chills will bottom out each morning in the mid-20s to 30s. The Gale Watch has been upgraded to a Gale Warning across both Matagorda and Galveston Bays and the Gulf waters for tonight through Thursday afternoon.
The wind shift associated with the strong cold front will push across the region this afternoon and into the early evening hours. This wind shift should reach the coast between 2 to 4 PM this afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms will be possible along the leading edge of the front, associated with the wind shift. This should be the first round of precipitation, with the main hazards being gusty winds, frequent lightning, and localized heavy downpours. The second round of precipitation should develop and push across Southeast Texas this evening into the early evening hours (reference graphic below). This second round of precipitation will bring additional rainfall in the way of locally heavy downpours. The system should be fast-moving, and therefore not anticipating any flash flooding concerns. Strong northerly winds are expected in its wake. Chilly conditions are anticipated in its wake with low temperatures bottoming out in the 30s to mid-40s, with wind chills in the mid-20s to 30s, Thursday and Friday mornings.
