A major winter storm will impact the Brown County and KOXE listening area beginning Wednesday with rain, followed by freezing rain and sleet Wednesday night and snow on Thursday.

According to KOXE Meteorologist Randy Turner, use the nice weather conditions today and Tuesday to prepare for the winter storm.

“We can expect high temperatures near 65 today (Monday) and near 70 on Tuesday.  The leading edge of the arctic air will begin to arrive Wednesday morning.  I expect the high temperature Wednesday to hold steady in the middle 40’s with a slow downward trend to the 30’s as rain falls much of the day on Wednesday.  By Wednesday evening around dark or so, the rain turns to a wintry mix.  Before midnight temperatures fall below freezing so precipitation turns to freezing rain and sleet,” Turner said.

By Thursday morning at sunrise, the temperature is forecast to be near 20 degrees.  “I don’t expect the temperature to increase at all on Thursday.  Whatever it is that morning is probably what it will be all day, or slowly fall.  We will still receive sleet and snow much of the day on Thursday.  Plus, wind chills will be in the single digits Thursday into Friday,” Turner added.

IN THE PHOTO:  A map of Texas weather as it is predicted to look on Thursday morning.  Rain in green, freezing rain and sleet in pink and purple, snow in blue.

Precipitation amounts are hard to pinpoint as of yet. “Regardless of amounts, I’m very concerned that it will be enough to cause icy and hazardous road conditions starting Wednesday night and continuing Thursday, Thursday night into Friday,” Turner add. “I expect high temperatures to remain in the 20’s on Friday and perhaps get close to freezing on Saturday.  The coldest nights will be Thursday night around 12 degrees and Friday night around 8 degrees,” according to Turner.

Plan for possible power outages, damage to trees and hazardous driving conditions.

Prepare by:

Making sure all faucets and water lines are well insulated
You have enough food and water on hand to last three to four days, should travel not be possible
That pets and livestock have plenty of food, water and extra shelter from the cold
A way for you to stay warm should you lose electricity
Extra firewood
A plan to check on your relatives and neighbors to make sure they are safe
A full tank of fuel in your auto in case of power outages to gas pumps

Watch for video weather updates on koxe.com and on the KOXE App.