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Low 30s In Texas In April?! Monday Night Was Very Cold; Tuesday Morning Is Chilly, Too

National Weather Service
Monday night's going to be very cold across North Texas.

How low did it go overnight?

At 7 a.m., D/FW International Airport recorded 37 degrees – not below freezing and not quite close to setting a record. The last time we recorded freezing temperatures at D/FW this late in April was back in 1997 – 32 degrees on April 13.

At 7 a.m., Denton was at 30 degrees. Graham was at 26. Waco was at 31 degrees, which ties Waco’s record low for April 15, which had been set in 1983. Waco has had 70 freeze days this season - the greatest number on record for that city, the National Weather Service says. While North Texas didn’t set records, we were 15 to 20 degrees below normal this morning.

Update, Monday afternoon: How low will the temperatures go? It will be windy and cool Monday, with highs only in the 50s -- about 20 degrees below normal. A wind advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. Monday for North Texas.

But by Monday night, temperatures will plunge into the 30s across most of North Texas -- and into the 20s in outlying areas. A freeze is possible across parts of the area – and frost is likely, too. The National Weather Service encourages residents to start planning to protect “tender vegetation.”

By Tuesday morning, expect temperatures slightly above freezing in Dallas-Fort Worth. But temperatures will likely remain below freezing for much of Denton and Collin counties, as well as other counties to the north and west of Dallas-Fort Worth.

Freeze warning for Tuesday morning

The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning from 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday for much of North Texas, although it doesn’t include Dallas or Rockwall counties. The freeze warning is in effect for Tarrant, Denton and Collin counties, as well as other counties north and west of the metro area.

Freezing temperatures are possible north of Interstate 30 and west of Interstate 35, the weather service says.

In outlying areas, lows will fall into the upper 20s -- temps could fall to freezing or below freezing for several hours overnight. In the metro area, temperatures may be around freezing for just a couple of hours.

A freeze warning means the cold temperatures cold kill sensitive plants. The weather service encourages folks to protect tender vegetation. Automatic sprinkler systems should be turned off to avoid creating ice patches on roads, driveways and sidewalks.

Snow in Amarillo

The Associated Press takes a closer look at the wacky weather, including reports of snow in Amarillo:

A cold front has brought snow to the Texas Panhandle, hail to the central part of the state and forecasts for freezing conditions accompanied by strong winds.   Ron McQueen, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Lubbock, says temperatures Sunday in West Texas were in the 80s, but then plummeted into the evening. A half-inch of snow fell on Amarillo and other areas.   Strong thunderstorms and hail moved through Central Texas on Monday and will extend into the Houston area. The Dallas and San Antonio areas saw temperatures drop into the 40s.   McQueen says temperatures in South Texas will drop Monday from the 80s down to the 50s with winds of 30 mph.   Much of the state will warm Tuesday before another cold front is expected Thursday.

Monday night's freeze comes after a wild Sunday, when thunderstorms and hail hit parts of North Texas.

Catch up on Sunday's highlights:

Update, 10:47 p.m. Sunday: The National Weather Service has canceled the tornado watch for Dallas-Fort Worth and much of North Texas. But a tornado watch is in effect for counties to the east of the metro area.

Update, 8:52 p.m. Sunday: A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 9:15 p.m. for northern Denton County, Grayson County and northern Wise County, as well as Cooke County and southern Montague County. The National Weather Service detected a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing hail as big as golf balls and damaging winds stronger than 65 mph. The storms were located near Lake Texoma.

Update, 6:27 p.m. Sunday: Thunderstorms continue to pop up to the west and southwest of Dallas-Fort Worth. At 6 p.m., a severe thunderstorm warning was issued until 7 p.m. for Erath and Comanche counties. At 6:15 p.m., the weather service reported that a large hail threat continues between DeLeon and Dublin – this is to the southwest of Stephenville. Hail as large as golf balls has been reported with some of the storms to the west and south of Dallas-Fort Worth.

Update, 5:38 p.m. Sunday: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch until midnight for all of North Texas -- this includes Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton and Rockwall counties, as well as many others. Radar shows strong storms moving in from the west.

Update, 2:50 p.m. Sunday: The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch until 8 p.m. Sunday for several counties north and west of Dallas-Fort Worth. Counties under the tornado watch include Grayson and Wise counties, as well as Archer, Cooke, Jack, Montague, Wichita and Young counties. Cities include Wichita Falls, Graham, Jacksboro, Decatur, Bowie, Gainesville and Sherman.

Original post: It’s likely to be a stormy Sunday.

Rain and thunderstorms are in the forecast throughout the day. A line of thunderstorms swept across North Texas Sunday morning. Another round of storms are developing this evening -- and things could get severe.

The best chance for severe storms is east of Interstate 35 and north of Interstate 20, the National Weather Service says. Dallas, Collin, Denton and Rockwall counties are most likely to be affected, as well as other counties to the north and east of Dallas-Fort Worth. But Tarrant County is likely to be affected, too. Large hail and damaging winds are “primary threats,” but a few tornadoes are possible, the weather service says.

A wind advisory is in effect for much of North Texas until 8 p.m. Sunday.

Expect strong and gusty southerly winds from 20 to 30 mph, although some gusts of 35 mph are possible. The National Weather Service says driving could be difficult and that boaters should be cautious on area lakes. Residents might want to secure trash cans, lawn furniture and other items that can be blown around.

And after today’s round of storms, expect a dramatic temperature change. By Monday night, temperatures will plunge into the 30s across most of North Texas. A freeze is possible across parts of the area – and frost is likely, too. The National Weather Service encourages residents to start planning to protect “tender vegetation.”

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Eric Aasen is KERA’s managing editor. He helps lead the station's news department, including radio and digital reporters, producers and newscasters. He also oversees keranews.org, the station’s news website, and manages the station's digital news projects. He reports and writes stories for the website and contributes pieces to KERA radio. He's discussed breaking news live on various public radio programs, including The Takeaway, Here & Now and Texas Standard, as well as radio and TV programs in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.