Cold front triggers Big Country’s first freeze watch of the season

BIG COUNTRY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – The National Weather Service has issued the first Freeze Watch of the season for parts of the Big Country as colder air settles in this week.

Knox, King, Kent, Stonewall, Scurry and Mitchell Counties will be under a Freeze Watch from late Wednesday night until Thursday morning with lows expected to dip to around 28 to 30 degrees.

These conditions may kill crops, harm sensitive vegetation, and damage outdoor plumbing if precautions are not taken.

Residents across the Big Country are encouraged to remember the “3 Ps”: People, Pets, and Plants, and to take steps now to protect them from the cold. With this also being one of our first cold snaps of the season, here are a few tips to help you prepare for winter when it decides to pop in and bring a cold rush of air.

Thanks to the cold front we received on Tuesday, we also have a Wind Advisory in effect for much of the Big Country. Winds out of the northwest are expected to remain between 20 and 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. These strong winds could knock down unsecured objects, cause isolated power outages, and make driving difficult, especially for larger vehicles.

This will be the first true taste of winter-like weather for parts of the region, marking a noticeable change from the warmer conditions we’ve seen throughout October.

While the City of Abilene hasn’t experienced its first freeze or freeze watch just yet, we aren’t that far from our first freeze on average, according to statistics from the National Weather Service. So, as we wait, it’s better to start preparing and keep the thought in mind for when it’s the Key City’s turn.

Stay warm, Big Country!