A prolonged period of winter weather affected South Texas during the final week of January 2026, beginning with the arrival of a strong Arctic front early on January 24. The front surged southward faster than initially anticipated, producing a rapid temperature drop across the region and widespread rain behind the boundary.
Every event with a place to put it; 83 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS CRP wrote it up.
A prolonged period of winter weather affected South Texas during the final week of January 2026, beginning with the arrival of a strong Arctic front early on January 24. The front surged southward faster than initially anticipated, producing a rapid temperature drop across the region and widespread rain behind the boundary. As colder air deepened overnight, precipitation continued while temperatures approached or fell below freezing across parts of the region, creating a narrow window for freezing rain and drizzle late January 24 into the morning of January 25. The greatest risk for ice accumulation occurred across the Victoria Crossroads, where light ice totals of up to around a tenth of an inch were possible. Elsewhere, the combination of lingering precipitation and wet roadways raised concerns for patchy black ice, particularly on bridges and overpasses as temperatures briefly dipped to freezing.
Once the precipitation ended on January 25, the primary hazard transitioned to extreme cold as a deep Arctic air mass settled over South Texas. Temperatures struggled to rise above the 40s during the day, while overnight lows dropped into the teens across northern inland areas and the lower to mid-20s closer to the coast. Persistent northerly winds produced dangerously low wind chills, with values falling into the single digits in some inland locations and the teens elsewhere. Extreme Cold Warnings and Freeze Warnings were issued across the region as the prolonged cold posed risks to infrastructure, agriculture, and vulnerable populations. Clearer skies and lighter winds early in the week allowed efficient radiational cooling, reinforcing the cold conditions through January 27 before gradual moderation began.
Although temperatures slowly recovered into the 50s and 60s by midweek, the pattern remained active with additional frontal passages. A brief warmup ahead of another cold front late in the week pushed temperatures into the 70s before colder air returned by January 30. This secondary surge brought another round of below-freezing temperatures and widespread cold weather headlines, particularly across inland counties where lows fell into the 20s and wind chills dropped into the teens. While precipitation with this second front remained limited, the extended period of repeated freezes and persistent cold made this late-January event a notable winter episode for South Texas.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Corpus Christi, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 24, 6:08 PM CST, 45 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
608 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026
...New AVIATION...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 555 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026
- Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories in Effect through Sunday
morning for freezing rain potential. Greatest impacts likely
from Live Oak to the Victoria Crossroads
- Be alert for black ice inland early Sunday morning from wet
roads during the day today, bridges and overpasses especially!
- Extremely cold wind chills region-wide Monday morning, ranging
as low as 5-15 degrees. Prepare to protect the 4 Ps: People,
plants, pets, and pipes.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1208 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026
Well... it's here. While there is still time to do preparations,
time is starting to run out to do so while you can still feel your
fingers. A drastic change in temperatures (72F at 0640 AM down to
52F within 25 minutes) has settled in across South Texas. Since
the frontal passage, most locations have seen steady temperatures
in the upper 30s to 40s. Additionally, the rain/thunderstorms
associated with the front brought many inland locations have
brought wet surfaces throughout the area. At the same time, winds
behind the front have been gusting 20-30 mph out of the north.
This is helping dry up some of the surfaces already, which will be
of great benefit this evening with a light freeze in store.
Tonight, an additional bout of precipitation chances will bring
the low-to-moderate chances of freezing rain for locations within
the Winter Storm Warning (and more so north of Hwy 59); CAMs such
as the latest runs of the HRRR continue to keep the bulk of the
showers associated with freezing rain moving through Victoria
after 10Z, but quickly wrapping up after 13Z, so the period of ice
accumulation will be a short one. Storm total ice accumulations
did not change much from the previous package and the Winter Storm
Warning is still advertising up to a tenth of an inch of ice
accumulation for Goliad/Victoria Counties. Then we are done with
the the threat of ice falling from the sky and quickly shift focus
to any freezing of wet surfaces, but Sunday morning duration of
temperatures below 32F will be limited to under 2 hours south of
the Corpus Christi area, with longer durations N of Hwy 77
(approaching 8-12hrs).
For this reason, no additional changes were made to the hazards
that were issued with forecast package issued before this one (I
have included the well-written discussion below for your quick
reference). While no decision was made to any expansion of the
Extreme Cold/Freeze warnings beyond Monday afternoon, it is
expected that these will be considered/issued overnight (once the
frozen precipitation threat falling from the sky moves away from
South Texas).
&&
.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 555 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026
IFR/LIFR conditions will persist overnight into Sunday morning,
then begin to improve Sunday afternoon. The main concern will be
-FZRA after midnight into Sunday morning. VCT has the highest
chance of accumulating FZRA, so for now, only VCT has a mention
of FZRA. The other S TX TAFs have liquid precip. Conditions are
expected to improve from west to east with VFR conditions
expected for LRD and COT between 14-17Z and ALI, CRP by 17-18Z.
VCT also improves but is expected to reach VFR late Sunday
afternoon or evening.
&&
.MARINE...
Issued at 1208 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026
A strong to near Gale (BF 6-7) north wind has settled in behind a
strong arctic front. Small Craft Advisory conditions are expected
through Monday. Gust to gale will be possible at times,
especially Sunday night. Rain chances will increase to a moderate
to high chance and continue through Sunday morning. Temperatures
will be around freezing along the coast with wind chill values
feeling well below freezing during late Saturday night through
Monday morning. Gentle to moderate onshore flow briefly returns
the middle of next week before another cold front threatens to
push through.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1208 PM CST Sat Jan 24 2026
Moisture levels across South Texas will continue to be elevated
ahead of the greatly advertised arctic front. Minimum RH vales are
expected to stay mostly above 30% through mid-week next week, with
the exception of Monday and Tuesday when values may briefly dip to
25-30%. However, light winds should prevent any meaningful fire
weather concerns. As for precipitation, chances remain medium to
high through Sunday morning, with only an isolated thunderstorm
potential tonight. Overall, no fire weather conditions are expected.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Corpus Christi 33 46 22 42 / 70 10 0 0
Victoria 27 41 18 39 / 90 30 0 0
Laredo 36 51 26 47 / 50 0 0 0
Alice 33 49 22 45 / 70 0 0 0
Rockport 33 47 24 43 / 80 20 0 0
Cotulla 33 47 22 44 / 70 0 0 0
Kingsville 34 49 22 43 / 70 0 0 0
Navy Corpus 37 47 27 42 / 80 20 0 10
&&
.CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...Extreme Cold Warning from 9 PM this evening to noon CST Monday
for TXZ229>234-245>247-345>347-447.
Freeze Watch from midnight CST tonight through Sunday evening
for TXZ229-239>244-342>345-442-443-447.
Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to noon CST Sunday
for TXZ229-239>244-342>344.
Freeze Warning from 11 PM Sunday to noon CST Monday for TXZ229-
239>244-342>345-442-443-447.
Freeze Warning until noon CST Monday for TXZ230>234-245>247-346-
347.
Winter Storm Warning from midnight tonight to noon CST Sunday
for TXZ230>234-245>247-346-347.
Cold Weather Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 3 AM CST Monday
for TXZ239>244-342>344-442-443.
Extreme Cold Warning from 3 AM to noon CST Monday for TXZ239>244-
342>344-442-443.
Extreme Cold Watch from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning
for TXZ443.
GM...Small Craft Advisory until noon CST Monday for GMZ231-232-236-
237.
Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM CST Monday for GMZ250-255-270-
275.
&&
DISCUSSION...AE/82
AVIATION...TE/81The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
39 cold/wind chill, 38 frost/freeze, 5 winter weather, 1 sleet. Local standard time, as filed.
KCOT reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KBEA reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
The 8T6 AWOS reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KBEA reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KVCT reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KRBO and KCRP reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KNOG and KALI reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KCOT reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KRAS reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KNQI reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
The AWOS 8T6 in George West / Live Oak reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KRKP reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KVCT reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KNGP reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
Ice collecting on elevated metal surfaces.
KPKV reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KPKV reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
The AWOS T69 in Sinton reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KRBO and KCRP reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KNOG and KALI reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KRKP reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KLRD reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
Ice has begun to form on cars and metal surfaces.
KNQI reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
DriveTexas reports ice on roadways of HWY-463, US-77 north of Victoria, US-87 around Nursery, FM-447.
KRKP reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KCOT reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KCOT reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KCRP ASOS site measured 0.03 inches of freezing rain.
Pictures received via social media of a glaze of ice coating most surfaces with trace amounts of sleet pellets frozen onto the ice surface.
The 8T6 AWOS reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KLRD reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
Photo provided by local media of ice accumulation on a street sign outside of the Aransas Pass Civic Center.
KNOG and KALI reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KNGP reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KNQI reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KRBO and KCRP reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
The AWOS T69 in Sinton reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
The AWOS 8T6 in George West / Live Oak reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: KPKV reported wind chills at or below 15 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Extreme Cold Warning criteria.
KNQI reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
The 8T6 AWOS reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KCOT reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: KVCT reported wind chills at or below 15 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Extreme Cold Warning criteria.
KCOT reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KRAS reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KLRD reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KNGP reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KLRD reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: KBEA reported wind chills at or below 15 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Extreme Cold Warning criteria.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: KNOG and KALI reported wind chills at or below 15 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Extreme Cold Warning criteria.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: KRBO and KCRP reported wind chills at or below 15 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Extreme Cold Warning criteria.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: KRAS reported wind chills at or below 15 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Extreme Cold Warning criteria.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: KRKP reported wind chills at or below 15 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Extreme Cold Warning criteria.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: KNQI reported wind chills at or below 15 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Extreme Cold Warning criteria.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: KNGP reported wind chills at or below 15 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Extreme Cold Warning criteria.
KVCT reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KVCT reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KPKV reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KBEA reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
The AWOS 8T6 in George West / Live Oak reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
The AWOS T69 in Sinton reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KCOT reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KPKV reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
The 8T6 AWOS reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KNOG and KALI reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KNOG and KALI reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KNQI reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KRBO and KCRP reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KRKP reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: KVCT reported wind chills at or below 15 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Extreme Cold Warning criteria.
KRKP reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KNQI reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KLRD reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KBEA reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KRBO and KCRP reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KCOT reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KRAS reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
The AWOS 8T6 in George West / Live Oak reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KVCT reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KVCT reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours, which is our local Cold Weather Advisory criteria.
KPKV reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
KCOT reported temperatures of 32 degF or less for a least 2 hours.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, January 2026
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1314225, 1314226, 1314227, 1314257, 1314229, 1314230, 1314231, 1314258, 1314232, 1314233, 1314262, 1314235, 1314264, 1314236, 1314301, 1314237, 1314266, 1314267, 1314281, 1314282, 1314268, 1314238, 1314302, 1314270, 1314303, 1314271, 1314241, 1314272, 1314304, 1314306, 1314242, 1314276, 1314305, 1314269, 1314239, 1314240, 1314273, 1314274, 1314275, 1315316, and more.