As a winter storm is expected to bring below-freezing temperatures across the Houston area from Saturday night and possibly lasting through Monday, Mayor John Whitmire has urged residents to prepare in advance and take all necessary precautions.
The mayor advised residents to be settled at their intended locations by midnight on Saturday and stressed the seriousness of the approaching weather system. He noted that Governor Greg Abbott has already declared 135 counties across Texas as disaster areas, and similar conditions are moving toward Houston.
Whitmire emphasized that preparedness and caution are crucial, as winter storm and extreme cold warnings are set to go into effect Saturday evening. According to the National Weather Service, sub-freezing temperatures and dangerously low wind chills are expected, particularly in areas north of Interstate 10.
Freezing Temperatures Expected to Persist
Forecasts indicate that temperatures will begin dropping on Saturday evening, with Houston expected to reach a low of 31 degrees overnight. Even colder conditions are anticipated on Sunday and Monday nights, with lows near 20 degrees. Areas north of I-10 could experience temperatures even lower than those in the city.
City Activates Emergency Preparations
Mayor Whitmire said city crews have already begun treating and preparing roadways to reduce travel hazards. He also announced that 12 warming centers will open across Houston starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, nine of which will be equipped with generators. These centers will remain open until Tuesday morning.
The mayor assured residents that no one will be turned away from the warming centers and confirmed that immigration status will not be questioned at any location.
Power and Emergency Response Readiness
Brian Mason, Director of the Houston Office of Emergency Management, stated that the three warming centers without generators have been designated high priority by CenterPoint Energy. This means they will receive priority support in the event of rolling blackouts or power disruptions caused by the storm.
City officials do not anticipate widespread power outages, but CenterPoint crews will remain on standby to respond to isolated outages caused by ice or weather-related damage. Mason added that the city’s emergency readiness level is currently at enhanced awareness and will be elevated to high preparedness starting Saturday evening.
He also noted that emergency operations will be fully staffed, with coordination among city, county, and state partners throughout the storm to ensure public safety.
Public Alerts, Transit Changes, and Safety Guidance
Residents are encouraged to sign up for city alerts by texting “alerthouston” to 888777.
Houston METRO announced that most services will be suspended starting at 9 p.m. Saturday, though rail service will continue. On Sunday, METRO will operate only rail and METRO Lift services. METRO Lift will provide emergency transportation to warming centers for those in need.
City officials advised residents not to drip their pipes, warning that doing so could strain the water system and increase the risk of a boil-water notice. Instead, residents are urged to wrap or drain exposed pipes to protect them from freezing.
Mayor Whitmire said he will hold another news conference at 9 a.m. Sunday to provide further updates on the storm and city operations.
