WACO, Texas (KWTX) -

An exceptionally cold air mass has arrived in Central Texas and will cause temperatures to plung to the lowest values seen in December since 1990.

The Arctic cold front moved through Central Texas Thursday morning. Temperatures quickly dropped 10-15° within a few minutes of the fronts passage. Most of Central Texas was in the 40s in advance of the front, and are now falling through the 20s.

Thursday's temperatures at the Waco Regional Airport(KWTX)

This front also is producing extremely strong and cold north winds. Most of Central Texas has seen peak wind gusts exceed 40pm today!

Wind gusts Thursday exceeded 40 mph in most locations(KWTX)

The combination of these cold temperatures and extremely strong wind will lead to dangerously cold wind chills. It will feel like it’s in the single digits most of the afternoon, and after sunset we will start seeing some location’s Wind Chills dip below Zero.

Bitterly cold temperatures and wind chills are expected into tonight(KWTX)

If you have to be outside any tonight and into Friday morning, prepare to have wind chill values below Zero for most of Central Texas.

Dangerously cold wind chill are expected Friday morning, with most locations dropping below Zero(KWTX)

Due to these extremely cold and windy conditions, the National Weather Service has issued a Hard Freeze Warning and Wind Chill Warning for most of Central Texas.

Most of Central Texas is under a Hard Freeze and Wind Chill Warning(KWTX)

This Arctic air mass impacting Central Texas is also bringing brutally cold weather to most of the country. Most the Central and Northern Plains will see lows Friday morning below Zero, and some areas may drop below -20!

Most of the country is dealing with the impacts from this Arctic airmass(KWTX)

Just like Bing Crosby, we’re all dreamin’...

The impending cold snap may have you dreaming of a White Christmas, but I’m here to burst your bubble. Despite temperatures that will easily be cold enough for snow, we just will have no moisture in place and no storm systems to bring us any wintry precipitation Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or even beyond.

Christmas Day should be a cold one. After setting a record high last Christmas at 82°, we’re forecasting temperatures to be around 15° below average. Morning lows near 20° on Christmas should warm into the low-to-mid 40s during the afternoon.