Arctic Blast Takes Aim At Texas Ahead Of Christmas

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An arctic front with extremely cold temperatures and wind chills will arrive on Thursday.

It's about to get really cold in Lubbock and throughout Texas. With less than a week to go before Christmas and with some of the busiest travel days coming up, an arctic is moving towards Texas threatening cold temperatures and possible travel delays in other parts of the nation that could impact us in Lubbock and throughout Texas.

The National Weather Service has already issued a Wind Chill Watch for Lubbock and the surrounding areas, warning that the wind chill could get down to 25 degrees below zero. According to the Weather Channel and the National Weather Service, the Wind Chill Alert is for Thursday through Friday morning.

IMPACTS...Wind chill values may fall to extremely dangerous levels. The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates on this situation. Persons are urged to stay indoors until conditions improve. If you must go outside, dress in layers. Several layers of clothes will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Cover exposed skin to reduce your risk of frostbite or hypothermia. Gloves, a scarf, and a hat will keep you from losing your body heat. Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills inside.

It's not just Lubbock that will see bitterly cold temperatures. The Dallas Morning News reports that North Texas could see wind chills at ten degrees below zero and that lows will be anywhere from 4-10 degrees by Friday with cold temperatures hanging around until Christmas eve.

Expect for firewood sales to rise and for stories about the power grid. Though this appears for now to mainly be a temperature event and not an ice and snow event.

Still, these cold temperatures could lead to loss of life for those who are older or are not protected against the wind. Pets are also at risk of dying if left outside with no source of heat.

Take precautions and be prepared.