The Houston area was under an extreme cold warning after dark as temperatures are predicted to drop back into the low 20s and high teens. However, afternoon sunshine brought temperatures above freezing and started to melt some of the snow that fell there on Tuesday.
With an expected evening low of 18 degrees in Houston, the National Weather Service has issued an extreme cold warning for Southeast Texas from 6 p.m. Tuesday through 9 a.m. Wednesday. This implies that on Wednesday early, melted snow could turn into ice. The National Weather Service predicts that the wind chill might drop as low as 10 to 15 degrees.
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A cold weather advisory that was supposed to end at 6 p.m. Tuesday was followed by the severe cold warning. Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Houston, Jackson, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Waller, Walker, Washington, and Wharton are among the counties that will be affected by the extreme cold warming.
Temperatures in Houston are predicted to remain below freezing until around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, and they may drop below freezing once more in the late hours of Wednesday after falling below freezing on Tuesday night.
Houston’s National Weather Service providedThe National Weather Service’s extended forecast for Tuesday afternoon.Houston’s National Weather Service providedThe National Weather Service’s 48-hour temperature prediction as of Tuesday afternoon.
As part of Houston Public Media’s special coverage of the storm, meteorologist Frank Billingsley expressed concern about the possibility of ice refreezing after the sun sets.
Billingsley stated on Hello Houston on Tuesday, “The snow has stopped, so that’s good; the problem is it’s still very cold out.” “Skies are clearing and that sun is going to melt some of this snow, but the problem is it’s going to refreeze later this evening and tonight.”
According to Billingsley, there is also need to be wary of the potential for “black ice” from Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning.
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“That’s what I’m worried about, that ice coming on the roads and then us all thinking because the snow is gone things are better,” he stated. However, we still have some time left, and there is black ice—basically, ice that is invisible—that people are unaware of. We will simply have to wait till that melts, which will be [Wednesday] afternoon, as [Harris County Judge Lina] Hidalgo stated.
The National Weather Service has issued the following reminders in connection with the extreme cold warning:
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Dangerously cold wind chill values as low as 10 to 15 degrees
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Low wind chill values lead to hypothermia
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Dress in layers, wear a hat and mittens/gloves when traveling outside
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Keep pets indoors as much as possible
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Protect sensitive vegetation and cover plants/trees that cannot be brought inside
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Use caution when operating generators and portable heaters.
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Do not use generators or grills inside.
