As promised, here's today's update on our BIG cool down starting as early as this evening and tonight for the Brazos Valley.  Just to give you a concept of the change we are looking at.  We've been running 10° to 15° ABOVE the normal for temperatures during this time in October.  After the cold front we'll be 10° to 15° BELOW where we should be for October normals.  Think a little harder about that -- once this cold front blows in, temperatures will be a good 20° to 25° COLDER than they have been over most of this week.

Timing of the Front

As of 10am this morning, the cold front had already moved through the Panhandle, steeply dropping temperatures behind it.  At the top of the 10 o clock hour, Amarillo checked in with a temperature of 39°.  Factor in a 40mph wind and wind chills were down in the mid to upper 20s!  Now, it won't get that cold here...but you can see the kind of chilly, Canadian air that will be invading the state over the next 12 to 24 hours.

As of this morning, indications are that the winds will shift to the north for the North and Central Brazos Valley between 6pm and 8pm.  While this will be slightly cooler and drier air, the real cold stuff is going to lag a few hours behind that wind shift.  By this evening, the colder air mass should be located between Dallas / Ft. Worth and Waco.

Overnight, that colder air will start to knock on the door of the Brazos Valley and by daybreak it will be rushing into our northern row of counties.  Before the big rush of cold air gets here, tomorrow morning will be drastically different from the start of today -- this morning we woke up in the muggy 70s...tomorrow wake-up temperatures will be down into the 50s and 60s, along with a gusty north wind.

By lunchtime Friday, that cold front should have pushed through most of the Brazos Valley.  A strong push of cold air will continue for the rest of the day, riding in on northerly winds at 10-20mph, gusting 25mph to 30mph at times.  Factor in a cloudy sky and the occasional chance at at light shower and it'll be one of the chilliest and raw days that we have had in quite a while.

We'll continue to monitor trends with this cold front as it slides closer to the Brazos Valley.  Don't forget you can keep up with what is happening throughout the day by following @KBTXShel on Twitter or checking in on my facebook page or the new KBTX Weather Facebook Page.  Find something warm to wear -- you'll need it sooner than later!