Houston winter storm watch: Freezing conditions starting Saturday

Houston winter storm watch: Jan. 22 evening forecast

FOX 26 meteorologist Remeisha Shade has the latest timeline and expectations for wintry weather in the Houston area this upcoming weekend.

HOUSTON - A Winter Storm Watch and an Extreme Cold Advisory are being issued for the Greater Houston area from Saturday to Monday.

LEARN MORE: What is a winter storm watch?

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FOX 26 will bring you the latest updates on the winter storm, what you need to do to prepare and how local and state officials are getting ready. Watch in the live player above or on the free FOX Local app for your smart TV and phone.

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Before the storm: Mild, showery weather through Friday

Expect cloudy skies with periods of showers expected through tonight and into Friday as Gulf moisture stays in place ahead of the approaching arctic front. 

Temperatures remain well above freezing through Friday, and while rainfall will not be constant, conditions stay damp at times leading up to the major pattern change.

Arctic blast arrives early Saturday

Confidence is high that a powerful arctic front will move into the region Saturday, bringing a rapid and significant drop in temperatures along with strong north winds. 

A Winter Storm Watch is in effect, signaling the potential for sleet or icing on roadways as colder air undercuts lingering moisture. 

An Extreme Cold Advisory has also been issued, highlighting the arrival of dangerously cold wind chills behind the front. 

The exact timing of when temperatures fall below freezing in the greater Houston area remains uncertain. Temps will plunge for areas north of town closer to Huntsville and College Station early Saturday, then most likely Saturday evening for Houston itself.

Ice threat and dangerous cold

The greatest concern is the overlap of moisture and freezing temperatures late Saturday into Sunday, which could lead to freezing rain or sleet, especially north of Houston. 

Forecast guidance continues to differ on how quickly freezing air arrives, making confidence in precipitation type and coverage lower than we'd like as of Thursday's models. 

Regardless of winter precipitation, very cold air is expected, with the coldest conditions anticipated Sunday night into Monday morning, when hard freezes and dangerous wind chills are most likely. Lows could drop into the teens and low 20s with wind chills potentially in the 5–15 degree range. 

There's still a chance of spotty power outages. So keep in mind that you can still keep up with weather coverage even if your power goes out by downloading our free streaming app on your mobile phone, FOX LOCAL. 

Stay safe!