January 4th, 2014
Central Texas braces for deep freeze

STAFF REPORT

A strong cold front expected to arrive in Central Texas this weekend is forecast to plunge temperatures into the low-20s, nearly 20 degrees below normal for January.

Meteorologists say air temperature on Saturday in San Marcos will be relatively balmy with a projected high in the mid-60s. But thermometer readings will take a deep dive starting Sunday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures are forecast to hover in the lower 20s starting overnight Jan. 5 and stay in the lower 20s through Monday night, according to the weather service. The agency issued a nationwide advisory on Friday warning of “dangerous cold” throughout the continental United States. In the San Marcos area, temperatures are anticipated to return to the upper-40s by daytime Tuesday and rise to the lower-60s by Wednesday.

Between Jan. 3-5 last year, the coldest temperature recorded in the area was 36 degrees, according to National Climatic Data Center. Two years ago, in 2011, the recorded low on Jan. 5 was 53 degrees only to drop to a low of 32 degrees the next day.

The average low in January is 39 degrees in San Marcos. The historical low temperature this month is -2 degrees, recorded in San Marcos on January 31, 1949.

Keep on top of the latest forecast for your city here or visit the Mercury’s weather center:

COVER: PHOTO by OLIVER BACQUET