Above Normal Temps for East Texas the Rest of 2021, But Then…

Do you hear that laughter and applause?  Listen closely, now do you hear it?  Yup, it's coming from all the mosquitos in East Texas that are just loving the warm weather we've had so far to wrap up 2021. Looking at the latest forecast, those blood suckers will have even more reasons to celebrate.

SAME OL' SAME OL'

We've had a handful of cold fronts blow through the area, but for the most part, temperatures have been well above normal, and in some cases record setting. That will continue to be the routine all the way through the end of 2021 and into the first day of 2022. I know most of the area snow cone stands shut down at the beginning of Fall, but they could probably still be doing a great business.

Santa and his reindeer will need to stay hydrated as they make their way through the Pineywoods on Christmas Eve.  Our expected low temperature that night (64) is actually warmer than our normal daytime high (60).  We are expecting high temperatures to be around 80 throughout the holiday weekend.  The record high temperature for Lufkin on Christmas Day is 82 and we could be pushing that.

BUT THEN...

Snow?  Umm, hold that thought for a moment.

The Global Forecast System (GFS) is a product of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration based in the U.S. It's one of the top go-to weather models when it comes to long-range forecasting.  What they have to say about the first week of 2022 for East Texas is rather interesting.

New Year's Day will pretty much be the same - above normal temps, again. But then...a series of cold fronts is expected to push through our area.  The first cold front around January 2 is expected to bring our temperatures just below normal.

By the time we approach the second weekend of the new year an arctic blast is forecast to move through. Highs in the area should be in the 30s and lows in the 20s.  Plus, a rather significant snow event is possible for northeast Texas, pretty much from the Ark-La-Tex to the Tyler/Longview area.

GOTTA HAVE A DISCLAIMER

Keep in mind that this is a weather model prediction for one to two weeks down the road.  Forecasters are usually quick to point out that low to medium confidence should be associated with this.

Will the path of snow make it further south into our area?  Will the snow happen at all? Will the mosquitoes finally get what's coming to them?

I sure hope so.