The weather forecast up until the end of the weekend will remain relatively calm. We’re starting off this morning with chilly temperatures but for most of the state it’ll turn out to be a pretty nice December day. I say most of the state because its going to be quite cold across the Texas Panhandle even into the afternoon hours. High temperatures will only top out in the low/mid 30s up there today and wait until you see tonight’s low temperature forecast. The remainder of Texas will generally climb into the mid 50s to mid 60s – around normal for December. The Rio Grande Valley refuses to give up the heat with upper 70s anticipated this afternoon.

A fast-moving storm system will bring the opportunity for a quick shot of light snow to the northern Texas Panhandle today. Little to no snow accumulations are anticipated due to limited moisture levels.

Tonight will be cold across all of Texas. The Texas Panhandle and West Texas will drop into the teens tonight. The Alpine Mountains will also drop down into the mid-teens tonight with excellent radiational cooling. The Concho Valley, Big Country, Permian Basin, Northwest Texas, and western North Texas through Texoma will all drop into the twenties tonight. East Texas, Central Texas, Southeast Texas, and South-Central Texas will drop off into the 30s with the Rio Grande Valley bottoming out in the lower 40s. Our next storm system will bring the chance for showers and thunderstorms to the eastern parts of Texas by Monday and Tuesday. At this time Christmas continues to look quite warm with the possibility of near-record high temperatures in the 70s (maybe even low 80s) for some locations. Another storm system will arrive shortly after Christmas based on current indications – we’ll have to watch that one closely as it’ll be interacting with an unstable environment.