After the severe storms on Saturday, East Texas experienced a short period of warmer weather before colder temperatures are set to arrive in January.
Severe weather is typically less common during this time of year. However, Saturday proved to be an exception as East Texas remained on high alert.
A tornado watch was issued for certain regions of deep East Texas, which lasted until 3 p.m. Another watch was extended until 5 p.m. for areas further west. Moreover, a severe thunderstorm watch remained in effect until noon.
According to CBS19 Chief Meteorologist Brett Anthony, there have been a series of thunderstorms moving through the area north of Interstate 20 in the morning hours.
Brett Anthony mentioned that these thunderstorms were anticipated as they had been indicated in the data several days prior.
Strong winds were detected on the radar in the vicinity of Gilmer and Ore City, with wind speeds ranging from 65 to 70 mph in those areas. There was a potential for a small tornado or isolated tornado in certain parts of deep Texas on Saturday evening.
Next week, we can expect a pleasant change in temperatures, with the mercury hovering around the comfortable 70s. However, towards the end of the week, we will experience a shift towards cooler winter weather.
According to the meteorologist, a front is approaching, but it is expected to be dry with very little moisture. As it moves through, temperatures will cool down into the 60s and then drop into the 30s. After that, the weather will stabilize.
Temperatures in East Texas are expected to drop into the mid-teens by either January 8th or 9th.
According to Anthony, there is going to be a significant influx of colder air in the near future. In fact, it might be the coldest air we experience all winter.
As we approach the event, we will have a better idea if there will be any ice or snow accompanying the cold air. Occasionally, when temperatures drop, we may also experience freezing drizzle or freezing rain.
According to Anthony, East Texas could experience some of the coldest temperatures of the year starting early next week until January 17.
During this period, the average high temperatures are expected to be around 57 degrees, while the lows could reach as low as 37 degrees.
He added that being down to around 17 degrees at any point during that period is 20 degrees below average, making it abnormally cold.
Recently, temperatures have been hovering around average, with a few warmer days reaching the 70s, especially around the Christmas period. Both the monthly and yearly average rainfall levels have exceeded expectations. Adding to this, the rain on Saturday will ensure that Tyler and Longview end the year with a surplus of rainfall.
According to Anthony, it is not breaking any temperature records, but it is still unusual to experience such high temperatures in the 70s and encounter three severe weather events within a week.
The warmest December temperature ever recorded reached a scorching 84 degrees, with this remarkable feat achieved on two separate occasions: December 1, 1906, and December 8, 1956.
In contrast, the coldest December temperature plummeted to a bone-chilling 0°F, marking a frosty milestone on December 23, 1989. When it comes to rainfall, December 27, 2015, stands out as the wettest day, as it received an impressive downpour of over 5 inches.
