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A brutally bitter blast of cold air pushed into North Texas Thursday morning bringing dangerously cold air and some of the lowest wind chill temperatures we've seen since February 2021.

The Wind Chill Advisory expired at noon Friday for all of North Texas.

A Hard Freeze Warning expired at 9 a.m. Friday for all of North Texas.

There were even a few snow flurries spotted Thursday in both Dallas and Fort Worth.

It's not a Yule log, but mix the cold winter air with snow falling on Fort Worth's 65-foot-tall Christmas tree and you've suddenly got that Christmassy feeling. All we need is hot chocolate. See the video here.

The strong Arctic cold front brings not only the coldest temperatures of the season but the coldest weather to arrive in December since 1990.

"You should get ready now for temperatures below freezing for about 60-70 hours. Please prepare your home, vehicles and pets for this arctic outbreak," said NBC 5 Chief Meteorologist Rick Mitchell. "This will be cold enough air that you will need to drip your faucets Thursday night through Saturday morning. Temperatures may briefly rise above freezing Saturday afternoon, but they will quickly fall below freezing Saturday night."

Howling north winds accompanied the front, adding to the chill as temperatures plummeted on Thursday. Afternoon temperatures were only in the 20s across North Texas.

With the added gusty winds, the feels-like temperatures are frigid. Make sure any outdoor holiday decorations are secured. Gusts of over 40 mph were common Thursday, but wind speeds will gradually decrease on Friday to around 10-20 mph. Weekend winds will be 10 mph or less.

Temperatures will remain below freezing until Saturday afternoon. Santa will feel right at home with many locations across North Texas feeling more like the North Pole. High temperatures will only climb into the low 30s on Christmas Eve.

BITTER COLD YES, BUT THIS ISN'T A REPEAT OF FEBRUARY 2021

While this is a potentially dangerous winter storm with temperatures well below freezing, it's not shaping up to be a repeat of the prolonged cold we saw in February 2021.

By comparison, this event will have sub-freezing temperatures for only about two days. In February 2021, it was below freezing for more than five days.

In February 2021 there were several inches of snow blanketed North Texas. For this event, only a few flurries are expected.

This event is not expected to be an ice event, which contributed to power outages in February 2021. Wind and cold are the primary threats in this event.

ERCOT SAYS THEY'RE READY FOR ARCTIC STORM

The operator of the Texas power grid expects to have enough power supplies to meet electricity demand as a surge of Arctic air plunges the state into freezing temperatures next week.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas said Friday that it is monitoring weather forecasts and "expects sufficient generation to meet forecasted demand."

If you haven't already or are planning to travel this week, take advantage of the next few days to winterize your home. Tips are below.

TEXAS WINTERIZING TIPS

Winterizing Your HomeBefore the cold, replace worn weatherstripping on doors and windows to ensure there is a good seal. This will make sure warm air stays inside and cold air stays outside. Most modern windows are sealed inside the frame, but older windows may be sealed with a glaze that can crack and need replacing. The glaze may need to be applied above a certain temperature and it'll need time to cure -- this maintenance is ideally done in the spring or fall. Lastly, check your gutters to make sure they are clear and allow for water to flow freely to the downspout. Blocked gutters can lead to water entering the home. The Texas Department of Insurance also recommends trimming trees away from power lines, homes, and cars and checking the insulation level in attics.

Protecting Your PipesMost North Texans know to insulate their outdoor faucets, but if the cold snap is prolonged it could be a good idea to also leave inside faucets on external walls dripping overnight so that they don't freeze. The drip, drip, drip from running faucets, if heard, can be annoying, so put a sponge or towel in the sink to silently catch each drop. If you're leaving town for a few days, the Texas Department of Public Safety recommends leaving cabinet doors open so that pipes on external walls are more exposed to heat. If you have pipes in an attic or crawlspace, are any other exposed pipes outdoors, they'll need insulation. About those external faucets, disconnect hoses and insulate the valves. Wrapping valves with towels is not the best long-term solution. Most if not all North Texas hardware stores sell inexpensive exterior faucet covers made of foam that easily attaches to the faucet bib in just a few seconds and do a great job protecting the pipe from freezing. If you do suspect a pipe has frozen, keep the faucet open so that water can flow when it melts. Additionally, make sure you know where your main water valve is located (and how to turn it off) in the event a pipe bursts.

Bring in Your PetsEven if you have a pet or animal that normally lives or sleeps outdoors, they could be susceptible to cold, hypothermia and pneumonia. The SPCA of Texas says if you'd be cold outside, odds are your pet is cold too. Bring pets inside and make sure other outdoor animals have appropriate shelter, dry and well insulated, to protect them from frigid temperatures and possible death.

Turn Off Your Sprinkler SystemYou want to turn off your irrigation system for a number of reasons. One is that you don't want it running on its normal schedule, potentially throwing water on streets where it can freeze and be dangerous for passing cars. Second, you don't want to risk any broken pipes or valves that may come with a system that has not been winterized. To winterize your system, the city of Fort Worth recommends timers and back-flow devices both be turned off, even if you have freeze or rain sensors installed and that the main line is drained. Any pipes that are above the ground should also be insulated.

Protecting Your PlantsPerennial potted plants should be brought inside and those that cannot be brought inside will need to be covered. There are several products that can be used to help protect delicate plants. For plants left outside, a day or two before a freeze hits, the Dallas Arboretum recommends watering the soil only by hand only, keeping the foliage dry, to insulate the plant's roots. The arboretum also recommends using frost cloth (image below) to trap heat instead of plastic sheeting -- which doesn't prevent condensation.

HVACMany air filters should be changed or cleaned every three months, or every season. But that's not the only winterizing needed for your HVAC system. You should have your ductwork checked regularly for holes (whether from vibration or rodents) to make sure the airflow is uninterrupted. If part of your HVAC is in the attic, it may also be home to rats, mice and squirrels who find the warmth of the unit an ideal spot to build a nest.

Swimming PoolsEven if you have a freeze protector among your pool equipment, you'll want to look at the pump every day to make sure it's moving water through your pipes. Those pipes, too, can burst if they freeze. Some pool owners drain their equipment in the offseason to prevent busted pipes.

BatteriesIt's always a good idea to on hand a supply of fresh batteries in the event they're needed for flashlights during a power outage. If you didn't replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors during daylight saving time -- now is a good time to make the switch.

Winter Weather Fast FactsAccording to the National Weather Service, in North Texas, from 1898 to 2022, the average date of the first freeze is Nov. 22. The earliest freeze on record is Oct. 22, 1898, and the latest is a tie for April 13, 1997, and April 13, 1957. From 1991-2020, North Texas averaged 29 freeze days between October and April. Most freeze days occur in January followed by December and February.

There are some things you can do now to make sure your home withstands the arctic blast bringing dangerously cold temperatures to North Texas.

FRISCO, TX — If you thought the Dallas Cowboys were done adding talent ahead of what they hope will be a playoff run, think again. The team is signing cornerback Xavier Rhodes to the practice squad just ahead of their trip to take on the Washington Commanders in the regular season finale, again addressing a position of need ahead of the tournament.

Rhodes is a former three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro who parlayed his first-round pick status with the Minnesota Vikings (2013) into an NFL stretch that, at one point, saw him ascend the ranks to being one of the best cornerbacks in the entire league.

That led to a five-year, $70.1 million contract extension with the Vikings in 2017, but the two sides would go on to divorce in 2020 — seven seasons after Rhodes first arrived in Minneapolis and as the franchise's record-holder for most passes defensed by a rookie as well as longest interception return (his famous 100-yard sprint in 2016).

Rhodes has since spent time with the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills en route to now landing in Dallas this January, joining a practice squad that had a vacancy following the move to place safety Juanyeh Thomas on injured reserve.

It's yet another move for head coach Mike McCarthy and Dan Quinn in an attempt to strengthen the depth at cornerback following the season-ending injuries to both Jourdan Lewis and Anthony Brown. Rhodes follows the recent acquisitions of Trayvon Mullen (claimed via waivers in December), Mackensie Alexander (signed to practice squad in December) and Kendall Sheffield (signed to the practice squad in October).

Currently, it's former fourth-round pick Nahshon Wright manning the boundary opposite First-Team All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs, with rookie sensation DaRon Bland taking on nickel/slot duties — Wright trending upward after replacing a struggling Kelvin Joseph.

The spot remains in Wright's possession heading into Washington, and likely into the playoffs as well (barring regression), but the Cowboys are clearly all-in on trying to end their decades-long Super Bowl drought; in a season that's seen them acquire several notable talents on both sides of the ball.

Rhodes is simply the latest.

The 32-year-old joins the Cowboys with a resume that boasts 13 career interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, 92 pass break ups and 457 combined tackles, hoping to rebuild his brand and possibly hoist his first-ever Lombardi trophy in the process.

The Dallas Mavericks have officially waived former Boston Celtics veteran point guard Kemba Walker, prompting an interesting tweet from former teammate Jayson Tatum that is replete with the requisite googly eyes and shamrocks which are sure to stir up interest in the NBA media sphere.

Do the St. Louis native’s social media musings hint at moves to come from Boston’s front office? Coupled with the recent move to open up a roster spot by dealing Noah Vonleh to the San Antonio Spurs, it is not entirely implausible these events are tied together with Tatum tipping his hand at inside knowledge.

But the current structure of the Celtics’ roster has former first-round pick Payton Pritchard relegated to an as-needed role off the bench — and thus far this season interim head coach Joe Mazzulla has not needed much of Pritchard.

This Thursday afternoon, the league released the results from the first round of 2023 NBA All-Star Game fan voting returns. https://t.co/tGG9n15XDx

So while a Kemba-Celtics reunion might not make sense save for an additional coach off the bench (which is dubious given how much Walker loves to play), additional moves might make a crack-glass-in-case-of-emergency role more suited to the former UConn standout given he and Pritchard’s relative places in their career arcs.

For now, however, we wait to see how these issues unfold and are related — or are not.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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In 2020, a Dallas ISD school had not won a state football championship in more than 60 years. On Saturday morning, the city celebrated its second title in two years thanks to the South Oak Cliff High School Golden Bears.

South Oak Cliff proved its dominance last month by winning the 5A Division II state title game for the second year in a row, becoming the first Dallas ISD school to win back-to-back championships. The two-peat was celebrated with a hometown parade attended by prominent community members, decades of alumni and an entire neighborhood overflowing with pride.

Angela Cole, Class of ‘77, was at the parade with many friends from her years at South Oak Cliff. She described the high school’s alumni, neighborhood and football fans as supportive, strong and involved.

“When everyone comes together, this is what you come out with: legendary,” she said.

Tony Mumphrey, Class of ‘82, was ready for the parade early.

“Been a Bear all my life,” he said while waiting for the festivities to begin, just a few streets away from where he grew up. “I hope they can do it again next year.”

Hundreds of people lined the street near South Oak Cliff High School on the cool, sunny morning. The crowd played music and danced as a parade of Corvettes, neighboring sports teams, cheerleaders and horseback riders passed.

Former cheerleading captain Alexis Ivey, who graduated in 2017 and attended the two championship games, yelled as the parade went by: “It’s a good day to be a Bear!”

The crowd chanted with pride when the team crested the hill on Marsalis Street. The players carried their trophies and wore 2022 state championship medals — some sported last year’s medal too, with the two clanking together as they walked.

‘Ain’t finished yet’

The championship is about more than sports for South Oak Cliff, which was highlighted during a ceremony on the school’s football field after the parade.

Students walked out of school in 2015 to call on Dallas ISD to overhaul their run-down campus. The district completed a $52 million renovation, including a new football field in January 2020, and the team brought home a championship two seasons later.

“This is what equity looks like,” parade marshal and 1977 alumnus Rev. Horace Bradshawsaid during the ceremony. “Our kids deserve nothing less than the best.”

Bradshaw highlighted a history and tradition of athletic prowess at South Oak Cliff, and he praised the students who led the walkout to demand equal opportunity for their school.

The team and coaching staff gathered on the stage behind head coach Jason Todd, who thanked the players’ parents, their teachers and the coaching staff by name for the history-making season. He lauded his players’ academics and character.

“This is something a lot of people said we couldn’t do,” said Todd, who has been head coach since 2015. “Like I said last year, we ain’t finished yet.”

Todd became the first Black coach in state history to win two titles at the same school — and the third to win two titles overall.

“When I was coming down Marsalis in that parade, ain’t no amount of money could ever make me feel the way that made me feel right there,” he said. “You really know the people and the people know you.”

At the end of his speech, Todd asked the crowd, “Y’all want a three-peat?” Met with cheers and shouts of “We want three,” he said, “We’re gonna get your three-peat then.”

‘Always the goal’

Quarterback and offensive MVP of the title game William Little said the players had their eye on the prize from the beginning of the season.

“This was always the goal,” he said. “To make it back to the state championship, that’s our end goal every year.” The rising senior said the team is ready for a three-peat.

Little’s mother, Shannon Little, said when she watched the team win at AT&T Stadium, she was excited to watch her son be a part of history.

“He got the opportunity to do what he loves to do and lead his team, he’s a humble gentleman on and off the field,” she said. “So I’m very proud of him.”

As school principal Willie Johnson Jr. delivered remarks, someone in the crowd shouted out, asking if the team would win next season’s title.

“Save the date,” he said.

In a fatal stroke for New Year's resolutions, a healthy restaurant has closed in Dallas' Deep Ellum: Sweetgreen, the California-based fast-casual restaurant concept with salads and bowls, shuttered its location at 2614 Main St.

According to a representative from the very tight-lipped very-corporate chain, the restaurant closed in December — less than a year after its opening in February 2022.

This was the second Sweetgreen in the DFW area. The first debuted in the West Village in November 2021. They've since added outlets in Lakewood, Fort Worth, and Southlake, which opened in mid-December.

Sweetgreen was founded in 2007 by three college students, with a philosophy that healthy food should be convenient and accessible to everyone in a fast-food setting. There are more than 200 locations, with big concentrations on the East Coast and West, and more than a dozen locations in Texas including Houston and Austin.

Signature dishes include Kale Caesar, Guacamole Greens, Crispy Chicken Salad, and Miso Bowl. They also rotate in seasonal offerings — currently Curry Cauliflower Bowl, a Buffalo Cauliflower side, and Chicken + Brussels sprouts.

The company representative offered no explanation for the shutter, but since they did just open that location in Southlake, the closure would appear to be not a Sweetgreen problem but instead a location problem.

Their Deep Ellum location was a brick storefront that at one time had been law offices but had been vacant for a while. The space was small, with seating for 22 inside and 32 on the patio, plus an outdoor zone with pickup window.

Unfortunately, that storefront has zero parking in front, not even metered spaces. The limited parking was a recurring complaint from customers who wanted to support the place but couldn't find parking nearby.

The ideal Sweetgreen location would be one with foot traffic or a brisk lunch crowd, but this has neither — things an out-of-town company might not have known.

The news comes on the heels of the January 3 closure of vegan restaurant Tiki Loco. Harrowing times right now for Deep Ellum dwellers trying to eat healthy in the New Year.