A Heads Up for Houston's Hard Freeze

Houston is in for another hard freeze next week, with lows on Monday and Tuesday (Jan. 15-16) likely to drop into the upper teens to mid-20s. Preparing early can help keep your family and home safe and warm. 

After a long, hot summer, it’s time to get your thick sweaters out of the closet. You may have heard by now that Houston is expecting a hard freeze starting Sunday. On Monday and Tuesday, lows are likely to drop into the upper teens to mid-20s for much of the Houston metro area.

The good news: according to Space City Weather, it’s not expected to become a disaster akin to the Feb. 2021 freeze. Temps are predicted to be more like last year’s freeze, which did not overwhelm the power grid – but it still requires some preparation. 
 

The “Four Ps”

Keep the “Four Ps” for cold weather in mind: 
1. People: Keep warm; stay inside if possible. 
2. Pets: Bring pets inside and be sure to have adequate food/water available. 
3. Pipes: Wrap exposed faucets and pipes, including those outside the house or in attics, garages, etc. Remove garden hoses connected to outside faucets. Turn off sprinkler systems. Shut off the main water supply and drain pipes to prevent damage should they burst. 
4. Plants: Bring potted plants inside or store in garage to provide warm and protection from wind. For cold-sensitive outdoor plants, put down extra mulch and cover with a cloth fabric to protect plants from wind and frost. 
 

What to have on hand

Supplies include:

• non-perishable foods
• bottled waters 
• medication (prescription and over-the-counter), first-aid kit 
• flashlights and batteries
• portable charger
• candles, matches
• manual can opener
• hand sanitizer 
• sleeping bags 
   

Weather Tracking Resources

Sign up for Alert Houston to receive timely information during weather emergencies. You can register for alerts through email, text message, voice call, or mobile app push notifications, and most alerts are geo-targeted. If you live in one of the following neighborhoods, you can also sign up for area specific alert systems to get the most locally-relevant information: Bellaire, West U, Memorial Villages.

Check Centerpoint Energy for any power outage updates. 

Space City Weather provides updated information without hype.
 

More Safety Tips:

Find safety tips for winter weather, including safely using space heaters, from Houston OEM. Reminder to keep generators outside at least 20 feet away from doors, windows, and vents to avoid accidental CO poisoning. 

If you need to drive, use precaution and check weather and road conditions in advance. Have an emergency kit on hand for the car. Find a list here. 

Stay safe and warm!