As a winter storm is expected to push temperatures below freezing across the Houston area starting Saturday night and possibly lasting through Monday, Mayor John Whitmire has called on residents to take precautions and prepare in advance.
The mayor advised residents to be settled at their intended locations by midnight Saturday, stressing the seriousness of the approaching weather system. He noted that 135 counties across Texas have already been declared disaster areas by Governor Greg Abbott, adding that the same conditions are moving toward Houston.
Whitmire emphasized that preparedness and caution are critical, urging residents to take the warnings seriously as winter storm and extreme cold alerts 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
Temperatures are forecast to begin dropping 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 are already 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 would be turned away from the warming centers and confirmed that immigration status would not be questioned at any location.
Power and Emergency Response Readiness
Houston Office of Emergency Management Director Brian Mason said the three warming centers without generators have been designated as 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 related to ice or weather-related damage. Mason said the city’s emergency readiness level is currently at enhanced awareness and will be elevated to high preparedness starting Saturday evening.
Mason 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, with rail service continuing to operate. 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 also 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.
