Due to the impending winter weather, Houston ISD and a number of other local school districts are canceling classes on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The impending shutdown were announced on Sunday by HISD, the largest school district in Texas, which has roughly 175,000 students. For Martin Luther King Jr. Day, campuses were already scheduled to be closed on Monday.
The district stated that it would decide on Thursday’s schedule by Wednesday at noon.
In addition to three to five inches of snowfall throughout the Houston metro area, freezing temperatures are predicted for Monday night and the majority of Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Roads in the area are expected to become slick and dangerous due to a winter storm warning that was issued by the National Weather Service from 6 p.m. Monday through 6 p.m. Tuesday.
At 9 p.m. on Monday, METRO, the public transportation operator for the area, will cease all operations. On Tuesday, when METRO’s rail lines are anticipated to operate in a modified manner, there will be no bus or HOV lane service.
Other local school districts that have announced closures on Tuesday and Wednesday include Aldine ISD, Alief ISD, Brazosport ISD, Channelview ISD, Clear Creek ISD, Cleveland ISD, Conroe ISD, Crosby ISD, Cy-Fair ISD, Deer Park ISD, Dickinson ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Friendswood ISD, Galena Park ISD, Goose Creek ISD, Humble ISD, Katy ISD, Klein ISD, La Porte ISD, Lamar CISD, Magnolia ISD, Montgomery ISD, Pasadena ISD, Pearland ISD, Santa Fe ISD, Spring ISD, Spring Branch ISD, Stafford MSD, Tomball ISD, Waller ISD, and Willis ISD. Thus have the Harris County Department of Education’s offices and schools, IDEA Public Schools in Houston, and KIPP Texas-Houston schools.
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Houston Community College declared on Sunday that all of its sessions, both online and in person, will not be held on Tuesday. On Tuesday, Rice University will also be closed.
The approaching winter weather is also having an effect on government buildings, hospitals, and airports. The Houston Airport System announced on Sunday that all Tuesday flights to and from Hobby Airport, Bush Intercontinental Airport, and Ellington Airport have been halted.
On Tuesday, when Houston’s municipal courts and Harris County’s district courts will also be closed, jury duty has been canceled in Harris County.
Additionally, Tuesday’s elective procedures at Houston Methodist Hospital sites are canceled.
Ben Taub and LBJ hospitals will stay open, but Harris Health locations will be closed all day Tuesday and Wednesday until noon.
According to the hospitals, Texas Children’s Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center have canceled in-person outpatient appointments for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Warming centers will be available for locals to take a break from the cold while most of the region gets ready to close.
The American Red Cross runs a 24-hour shelter at the Tom Bass Community Center, 15108 Cullen Blvd., from 5 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday.
On Monday and Tuesday, the Lincoln Park Community Center (979 Grenshaw St.) and Finnigan Community Center (4900 Providence St.) will be open as warming centers from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Warming centers will be available Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Bayland Community Center (6400 Bissonnet St.), Burnett Bayland Community Center (6026 Chimney Rock Rd.), and Radack Community Center (18650 Clay Rd.).
At 6 p.m. on Sunday, the City of Houston will also open ten warming facilities. The places are as follows:
- Acres Homes Multi-Service Center at 6719 W. Montgomery Rd.
- Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center at 6402 Market St.
- Fonde Community Center at 110 Sabine St.
- Kashmere Multi-Service Center at 4802 Lockwood Dr.
- Magnolia Multi-Service Center at 7037 Capitol St.
- Sunnyside Multi-Service Center at 4410 Reed Rd.
- Moody Community Center at 3725 Fulton St.
- Metropolitan Multi-Service Center at 1475 W. Gray St.
- Northeast Multi-Service Center at 9720 Spaulding St.
- Southwest Multi-Service Center at 6400 High Star Dr.
