The National Weather Service’s most recent research predicts that a cold Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day will turn icy as early as Monday night.
Officials from Houston attended the yearly holiday parade on Monday morning, but they advised citizens to get ready to stay indoors until Tuesday. According to NWS forecasts, Houston will receive one to three inches of snow, with certain regions—particularly those near the I-10 corridor to the coast—possibly receiving up to three or five inches.
According to Mayor John Whitmire, the city has been getting ready since last week. Airports, courts, and city offices will all be closed on Tuesday, but necessary services will still be accessible.
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He stated on Sunday that the city of Houston is ready for severe weather. less activity. Watch out for each other. However, let us cooperate with each other. Get in touch with your city’s resources and offer assistance to a neighbor or loved one in need.
How to get ready for Houston’s upcoming chilly temperatures
Since the nearly nine-day Great Texas Freeze in 2021, which left nearly 10 million people without electricity throughout the state, the city has not experienced snowfall.
With the most snow expected on Tuesday evening and a widespread freeze into Wednesday, the current winter storm warning is in force from 6 p.m. Monday through 6 p.m. Tuesday. An extreme cold watch was issued by the NWS through Wednesday AM.
As of late Monday morning, Whitmire’s administration had no urgent issues, but spokesperson Mary Benton informed the Landing that they are in contact with Centerpoint, NWS, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
As of midday, 94 disruptions were visible on the CenterPoint outage map, impacting over 900 customers. According to Benton, ERCOT has informed the city that there is enough extra electricity in the grid to prevent extensive outages, but things could change in the days ahead.
Additionally, the city runs ten resident warming centers, some of which may be open until Thursday. As of 10 p.m. Sunday, about 450 people had used them.
On Sunday, Houston Public Works started applying a brine solution to nearby roads. Additionally, the Texas Department of Transportation pretreated overpasses and roadways. Although the agency advises drivers to avoid driving on public roads, if they must, they should slow down and steer clear of high roads and overpasses, some of which may be closed.
Link to TxDOT here to monitor roads, traffic cameras, and road conditions.
The procedure lowers the freezing point rather than dissolving the ice as would have happened if the department had salted the roads. Whitmire urged locals to stay at home whenever possible because the roads can still freeze depending on the temperature drop.
Whitmire stated on Sunday that employers ought to exercise their discretion. Allow them to remain at home if they are not necessary employees.
Many shops and offices have shuttered in preparation.
Schools in the Houston Independent School District were closed until at least Wednesday.
Ellington, William P. Hobby, and George Bush Intercontinental Airports will all close at midnight on Tuesday. To decide whether to resume flights on Wednesday, directors will keep an eye on the weather.
Through X, Harris Health declared that all of its clinics and outpatient facilities will be closed Tuesday through Wednesday at noon. This is a list of the affected clinics and centers.Additionally, Harris Health announced the cancellation of all elective treatments for Tuesday.
At 5 p.m. on Monday, Whitmire will provide an update on storm preparations, which will be live on Facebook, X, and Houston Television Live.
This report was edited by Manny Garcia.
From Buffalo Bayou Partnership, a message
Visit Cistern Illuminated in Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern this holiday season to experience peace and quiet. Kelly O. Brien, a Houston-based artist and engineer, created a calming sequence of light and sound that transforms 221 concrete pillars above sparkling water.
To learn more about this special Houston holiday event, go to buffalobayou.org.
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