Central Texans cope with cold

by JEN BIUNDO

The Central Texas region is set to see an icy blast of arctic air this week, with temperatures plummeting into the teens and a fierce wind chill factor in the single digits. Weather forecasters are predicting three nights of hard freezes on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

“Temperatures will likely be colder during this cold outbreak than at any time during the past few years,” the National Weather Service reported.

After a relatively balmy afternoon, Wednesday night should see temperatures hovering just above freezing in Hays County, according to projections from the National Weather Service.

But the high Thursday isn’t expected to get above the mid-30s. Thursday night, temperatures are forecast to drop into the low 20s, with wind gusts as high as 40 miles per hour.

Friday afternoon is also expected to be frigid, with the thermometer stuck in the mid 30s. Friday night, the low in San Marcos is projected at a bitterly cold 18 degrees.

Saturday afternoon should see temperatures rise slightly into the 40s. But the region may see the third night of hard freeze, with temperatures in the low 20s.

Sunday could bring some relief, with afternoon temperatures in the low 50s and the thermometer hovering just above the freezing mark that night.

The city of San Marcos offered the following tips to protect your family, home and pets:
• Make sure children are dressed appropriately for the cold weather
• Have safe heating equipment available inside
• Check smoke detectors
• Winterize your windows and doors with caulking and weather stripping
• Make sure pets have adequate shelter and warmth, food and water
• Cover vulnerable outdoor plants or move them indoors
• Wrap outdoor pipes in newspapers or insulation and cover with plastic
• Let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing