Most of the holidays may be over, but winter is sticking around — and it’s bringing freezing weather to Texas next week.

A polar vortex, a weather pattern similar to the historic winter storm that struck Texas in 2021 — when every county in the state experienced below-freezing temperatures for the first time — is making its presence felt and is expected to reach Texas by Monday.

The upcoming polar vortex will bring arctic air from Canada down throughout most of the U.S. While not as severe as the 2021 Great Texas Freeze, the phenomenon will quickly drop temperatures into the 20s and 30s across Texas next week, down into the teens in some northern parts of the state.

What is a polar vortex?

A polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air that swirls around the Earth’s poles, primarily in the stratosphere, creating a strong band of west-to-east winds. When this vortex weakens, it can send frigid air from the Arctic southward, bringing dangerously cold temperatures to mid-latitude regions like the southern United States.

In 2021, the polar vortex prompted widespread power outages across Texas, resulting in rolling blackouts and leading to the deaths of 246 people.

When will the polar vortex reach Texas?

The effects of the polar vortex are expected to reach Texas on Monday and bring freezing or below-freezing temperatures throughout the week.

The impending event could bring snow to all 48 contiguous states, except for southern California, southern Florida, and southern Arizona. However, snowfall is unlikely in parts of Texas that are not in the northern regions, and any areas that do receive snow will likely experience only a brief period of accumulation, as temperatures are expected to warm back into the 40s during the daytime.

How cold will it get in Texas? See forecast map

The National Weather Service and NOAA forecast Texas temperatures will begin to dip Monday, with some North Texas regions seeing freezing temperatures. By Wednesday, most of the state will have high temperatures in the upper 30s and lows in the teens and low 20s. These will slowly creep back up by Thursday evening.

As several cold fronts rush through Texas, the northern parts of the state will see the lowest temperatures.

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How to prepare your home during freezing temperatures

To prepare your home for freezing temperatures, insulate exposed pipes, seal any drafts around windows and doors, and ensure your heating system is in good working order.

Here are some tips:

• Insulate vulnerable pipes to prevent frozen pipes. When temperatures drop below 32 degrees, let a few faucets drip to prevent freezing and bursting. Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to reach the pipes.
• Caulk gaps and openings around windows, doors, air conditioners, and mail chutes to prevent cold air from entering. For extra protection against heat loss, you can install weather stripping and seals.
• Keep driveways and sidewalks free of ice and snow, and repair any step or handrail issues.
• Winter brings more residential fires, so ensure all smoke detectors work by testing them monthly and replacing batteries as needed. Also, install a carbon monoxide detector to prevent toxic gas buildup.
• Keep your thermostat at 65 degrees or higher and ensure your home is well-insulated. A programmable or energy-efficient thermostat can help maintain warmth in key areas while saving on energy costs.

The NWS Weather Prediction Center has general tips for staying safe in winter weather.

How long will the cold last?

These wintry conditions are predicted to sweep through Texas and move on by next weekend.

After years of waiting for his chance, Drew Mestemaker got one shot to be a starting quarterback and made the most of it.

The North Texas walk-on hadn’t started a game at quarterback since his freshman year of high school in Austin, Texas, where he later started at safety and was an all-district punter.

But with Mean Green starting quarterback Chandler Morris transferring to Virginia, Mestemaker made his first start in four years against Texas State in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl on Friday. And he had a day, racking up 448 total yards, going 26-of-41 passing for 393 passing yards and two TDs and adding nine carries for 55 yards, including a 70-yard TD run.

That run — the second longest by an American quarterback in a bowl game — cut Texas State’s lead to two points, 30-28, with 1:49 left, after which Mestemaker went to the sideline and started throwing up into a trash can.

The freshman’s magic ended when he was intercepted with 12 seconds left, and Texas State held on for its second straight First Responder Bowl win.

Still, North Texas, which had the country’s No. 3 passing offense this season, came away with an incredible story and a potential star.

“That’s the first football game he started at quarterback since the ninth grade, which is just wild to me,” Mean Green coach Eric Morris said of Mestemaker, who backed up current Louisville freshman quarterback Deuce Adams at Vandegrift High in Austin. “To see him go out there and compete the way he did, I mean the kid, he has some traits.”

Morris, who played receiver at Texas Tech under Mike Leach and was later Kliff Kingsbury’s offensive coordinator in Lubbock when Patrick Mahomes played there, had high praise for Mestemaker.

“I’ve been around some good ones, been blessed to be around a lot of NFL guys in my career, and he has some traits that are just as good or better than some of those guys playing on Sundays right now,” Morris said. “I think you saw the athleticism, the accuracy, the decision-making. I wouldn’t be surprised if in 15 years, Drew Mestemaker’s playing football still.”

Bobcats quarterback Jordan McCloud, who previously played for South Florida, Arizona and James Madison before transferring to Texas State ahead of this season, surpassed 10,000 career passing yards by throwing for 307 and a touchdown in Friday’s win, fending off an opponent who entered with 69 career passing yards in Mestemaker.

“Hats off to North Texas and Coach Morris,” Bobcats coach G.J. Kinne said. “Their backup quarterback came out and played lights out. The last couple of weeks have been the craziest I’ve been a part of in college football.”

North Texas was without top wide receiver DT Sheffield (66 catches, 822 yards, 11 TDs), who transferred to Rutgers, and the Mean Green came in as 13.5-point underdogs. Mestemaker, who had attempted five passes in four appearances as a backup this season, was tasked with picking up for Chandler Morris, who threw for 3,774 yards and 31 touchdowns this season but then left for the Cavaliers last month.

Mestemaker did that and then some:

• His 393 passing yards were the second most in First Responder Bowl history, trailing only Case Keenum’s 532 in 2011.

• His 448 yards of total offense tied Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson for the most by any FBS player this bowl season.

• His 393 passing yards were the most in North Texas bowl history and the most ever for a true freshman in his UNT debut.

“The offense never wavered,” said receiver Damon Ward Jr., who has fought through 12 surgeries since 2019 at North Texas and ended his career Friday. “I’ll remember the resiliency and the brotherhood we have. … Drew took command of the offense. He learned all our schemes and took advantage of his opportunity.”

North Texas recently landed its own quarterback transfer in former Albany star Reese Poffenbarger, who threw for 3,603 yards and 36 touchdowns in 2023 and backed up Cam Ward at Miami this season.

Kinne, however, was impressed by what he saw of Mestemaker as QB1.

“Look, that guy’s athletic, he’s big, obviously you saw the run at the end of the game. I mean I think it’s going to be tough to beat that kid out moving forward,” he said.

Eric Morris agreed, saying after the game that he’s intrigued to see what Mestemaker can do going forward for his team.

“Just watching it right there, he can definitely lead our football program,” he said.

CEDAR PARK, Texas – Austin police are still searching for the suspect involved in a shooting at Lakeline Mall on Thursday.

Police said on Jan. 2, around 3:55 p.m., officers responded to an incident inside Lakeline Mall in Cedar Park.

The suspect and a victim left the mall immediately after the shooting.

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Initially, police said, there was no indication of any injuries. However, it was later determined a victim had minor injuries and self-reported to the hospital after leaving the mall.

A photo and video of the suspect has been shared by police. They described the suspect as a Hispanic man in his late teens to early 20s. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, dark pants, and dark shoes.

If you have any videos, photos, etc., Austin police are asking people to share them by scanning the QR code below.

Anyone with any information should contact APD’s Aggravated Assault Unit at 512-974-5245. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.