AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Forecasters say confidence is growing in a winter storm that is expected to bring freezing rain and wintry precipitation to the Hill Country and Austin metro area beginning early Thursday and for much of the day, along with bitter cold temperatures plunging into the upper teens by Friday morning.
A Winter Storm WARNING has been issued for all of our Austin metro counties as well as the Hill Country. It will go into effect at 3 a.m. Thursday morning and stay in effect until at least 6 p.m.
Winter weather in Central Texas is notoriously difficult to predict, and forecasters are continuing to refine accumulation amounts and locations as we get closer to the actual event. As of Tuesday morning, what is expected is that a cold rain falling Wednesday night will transition to a mix of freezing rain and sleet very early Thursday morning, with areas along I-35 and north and west seeing potential ice accumulations up to a quarter of an inch.
Elevated bridges, overpasses, and other surfaces will be the first to become slick and ice over, with ground surfaces likely becoming impacted as well.
Temperatures are not expected to rise back above the freezing mark until Friday afternoon, likely resulting in 36-48 hours with temperatures below freezing.
Stay with Talk 1370 and Talk1370.com for the latest developments as this winter storm forecast continues to develop.