A strong cold front is sweeping across the southern United States, bringing a sharp drop in temperatures, with Texas particularly affected.
Freeze warnings have been issued for several cities in the state, with temperatures expected to fall to as low as 24 degrees by Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
These warnings are issued when temperatures are forecast to drop below freezing for several hours within a 24-hour period.
The cold front will primarily impact southwest and western Texas, including cities like Midland, Odessa, Monahans, Marathon, Big Spring, Fort Stockton, and Stanton, as well as Big Bend National Park and surrounding areas.
These locations are set to experience temperatures as low as 24 degrees by 9 a.m. local time on Friday. North-central and northeast Texas will also see significant drops, with temperatures reaching as low as 28 degrees in cities such as Greenville, Allen, Emory, and Jacksboro, among others.
Other areas, including Austin, San Antonio, and Eastland, will experience lows near 30 degrees.
The NWS has advised that the cold front will bring chilly temperatures in the 30s and low 40s tonight, with some areas in the Hill Country possibly dipping to freezing by sunrise.
Freeze warnings will remain in effect until 9 a.m. Friday morning. The NWS cautioned that frost and freeze conditions could harm sensitive plants and damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Residents are urged to take precautions to protect plants from the cold and prevent outdoor water pipes from freezing.
The NWS recommends wrapping, draining, or allowing pipes to drip slowly to prevent them from bursting. Those with in-ground sprinkler systems are advised to drain them and cover above-ground pipes.
The freeze is not limited to Texas, as other Southern states, including Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and North and South Carolina, are also under freeze warnings.
This cold front follows an Arctic blast affecting the Northern Plains, where wind chills are expected to plummet as low as 40 degrees below zero in parts of North Dakota. Meanwhile, the West is also under winter weather warnings, with snow expected in California.
AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok stated that the cold blast will feel like January and will be a significant shock for many who have been accustomed to mild autumn temperatures.
Meteorologist Ryan Maue noted that by this weekend, about two-thirds of the U.S. population will experience freezing or colder temperatures.