Freeze warnings over for Valley while chill, marine hazards persist

The freeze warnings and cold weather advisories are in the rear view mirror, though small craft advisories and a high risk of rip currents are expected into the weekend.

That’s according to the latest update from Lead Meteorologist Rick Hallman with the National Weather Service Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley station. Also, despite rising temperatures, chilly conditions are likewise expected to last into the weekend, according to a bulletin issued Thursday morning.

The forecast is for low pressure to develop along the lower Texas coast into the weekend, which means continued adverse marine and coastal conditions and a greater chance of rain, according to the NWS. An official High Surf Advisory was in effect through 6 p.m. Thursday for the lower Texas coast, and Small Craft Advisories have been extended until midnight Thursday for Gulf waters 0-20 nautical miles out, and to 6 a.m. Friday for Gulf waters from 20 to 60 nautical miles out.

“Chilly conditions are expected to continue into the weekend with an increasing chance of rain, especially along the coast, into Friday,” Hallman predicted. “This may lead to a sea turtle cold stun event by this weekend as water temperatures drop.”

Motorists were warned to be on the lookout for pelicans landing on coastal roadways and bridges, especially Thursday night into Friday, while “elevated surf and long-period swell will maintain life-threatening surf conditions through (Thursday) afternoon and persist into this weekend,” the NWS said.

The weather service advised that beach/marine conditions could be “slow to improve” over the weekend and that Small Craft Advisories and Rip Current Statements might need to be extended.

The Arctic cold front that pushed temperatures below freezing early Wednesday and Thursday across the Northern Ranchlands will keep temperatures well below normal normal through much of the weekend across deep South Texas.

“Coastal troughing will set up by the end of the week, which will result in increased prospects for rain across deep South Texas late Thursday into Saturday,” the NWS advised.

Friday’s daytime highs were forecast to be in the 50s along and east of I-69E, with Friday nighttime temperatures falling to the mid- to upper 30s over the Northern Ranchlands, and low to mid-40s across the Valley. Saturday’s highs were expected to be in the mid- to upper 40s into the lower 50s, according to meteorologists.

“Periods of rain and drizzle are expected late Thursday night through Saturday afternoon as coastal troughing sets up along the lower Texas Coast,” the NWS predicted. “No wintry precipitation is expected as temperatures are forecast to remain above freezing by the time rain chances return.”

Coastal flooding is a possibility, especially along S.H. 4, in light of “increasing seas” and strong northerly winds, according to the weather service.

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