Winter storm watch issued ahead dangerous cold, blizzard-like conditions

Published 4:50 pm Friday, January 24, 2014

Bitter, arctic air is moving into the area … again, and this time it’s bring blizzard-like conditions with it.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for 6 a.m. Sunday through midnight Monday morning, warning of dangerously cold temperatures, high winds, drifting snow and whiteout conditions.

NWS meteorologists indicated the arctic outbreak could be similar to the “polar vortex” of Jan. 6 and 7 when wind chills around 50 below caused schools across the state to close.

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Schools are already closing Monday. Austin Public Schools announced Friday that schools will be closed Monday and all after school activities are closed.

The weekend will first get off to a snowy start, with a few inches of snow expected Friday night, and another 3 to 4 inches Saturday night into Sunday.

Then come the winds, which are expected to increase to 28 to 30 mph with 48 mph gusts Sunday, creating blizzard-like conditions when coupled with the new snow.

Then comes the cold. After a high of 21 on Sunday, temperatures will plummet to 18 below Sunday night with wind chills of 35 to 50 below.

Monday’s high will be minus 12 with a low of 21 below and 16 to 21 mph winds with 29 mph gusts.

The cold will hang around Tuesday when the high will be 12 below. It will warm up to 9 Wednesday and 15 Thursday.