What is a wind chill watch? What to know, how to prepare as extreme cold hits North Texas
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Freezing weather in North Texas
Stay weather-aware with these tips. Check back on our homepage for updated forecast information.
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Stay inside if you can. Dangerously frigid winter weather is coming to Texas.
A cold front is expected to blow through North Texas starting Thursday morning, drastically dropping temperatures and bringing with it high winds. Temperatures could go as low as about 12 degrees, but the wind chill could make it feel like -15, according to the National Weather Service.
A wind chill watch is expected to be in effect from Thursday morning to Friday morning for all North and Central Texas counties, according to the NWS. Click here to read the latest updates to the forecast from the National Weather Service.
About 20 to 30 mph winds and 35 to 45 mph gusts are expected, the NWS said. There will be about a 10% chance of light rain or snow in the northeast and eastern Texas.
The wind chills could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.
To prepare for these freezing and extreme temperatures, here are some tips to stay warm and safe:
WHAT IS A “WIND CHILL WATCH?”
A wind chill watch means the National Weather Service is advising that residents be prepared and expect that “dangerously cold wind chill values are possible.” The NWS also advises adjusting plans to avoid being outside during the coldest parts of the day.
This temperature is the “feels like” temperature you see on your weather apps, and it factors in other elements, such as wind speeds. Higher wind speeds will speed up the body heat lost due to exposed skin, which lowers the body’s temperature.
Wind gusts can reach up to 45 mph during this winter storm, so be careful if you have to step outside, even if it’s for a few minutes.
During wind chill watches, the NWS suggests bring pets inside, protecting outdoor pipes and covering or bringing in sensitive plants. More details on those tips below.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR COLD WEATHER
Tips for you, your pets and your neighbors
Because of the extreme cold, NWS is encouraging people to plan ahead. If you have to go outside, bundle up and wear layers on top of your layers. These extreme temperatures can cause frostbite.
The NWS is also urging people to keep their pets’ safety in mind. Those with pets outside should provide them with some kind of heat source or bring them inside because of extreme conditions.
If you know someone who lives alone or you have an elderly relative who lives by themselves, check in on them if possible. Help them make sure their heating systems work properly.
Tips for your home
People who tend to get frozen pipes should make sure they leave their cabinets open to expose the pipes to warmer air, and leave their faucets running a bit.
Tips for your car
If you’re driving somewhere else for the holidays, you should check to make sure your fluids are full and that you have a full tank of gas. Those also headed out into the cold need to make sure they are appropriately dressed for the weather, including having a way to cover their face.
Pack some non-perishable food items, blankets, gloves, hats and other tools in an emergency kit if you end up stranded because of the impending snow. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that you should have:
- A three-day supply of food and water for each person along with items for any pets
- Personal essentials such as medicine and clothing
- A battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Extra flashlights and batteries
- First-aid supplies
FIRE SAFETY WHEN KEEPING WARM
Be careful using space heaters. Space heaters are the leading cause of home fires and home deaths from December through February, according to the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
Each year, space heaters account for about one-third of home heating fires and 80% of heating fire deaths.
Missouri state fire marshal Tim Bean stressed two key factors leading to heating fires: Not using space heaters and other heating sources as they are designed to be used, and not having smoke alarms in their homes.
“Space heaters are designed to be used to supplement primary heating sources; that’s where the name comes from; they’re meant to help heat limited spaces in a residence that do not warm sufficiently from the primary heating source.” Bean said in a statement. “Also, people need to think of space heaters and smoke alarms as working together. Smoke alarms are essential in the home.”
Bean shared these tips:
Turn off portable heaters whenever leaving the room or going to bed.
Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment. The three-foot safety zone includes anything that can burn, such as furniture, drapes, Christmas trees and electronics.
Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
Do not overload extension cords or outlets. Many extension cords and power strips are not designed to handle the load of an electric heater.
Don’t place an electrical cord under a rug, to prevent the cord from overheating and causing a fire.
Never use an oven or other cooking devices to heat your home.
Don’t use an outdoor propane heater indoors. By testing them monthly, ensure your home has working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
HOW WILL AIR TRAVEL BE IMPACTED?
During the extreme cold, flights out of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport may see delays, but travel expert Steve Cosgrove is optimistic that problems in the metroplex may not be as bad as in other parts of the country.
Early flights out of DFW or Love Field may have a greater chance of delays during the coldest hours of the day.
Read more on air travel expectations: Winter storm flight delays: What to know if you’re flying out of DFW, Love Field
This story was originally published December 21, 2022 at 12:58 PM.
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