HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — We’re done with the wintry precipitation but not the winter weather. Dangerously cold conditions are settling in Sunday night and will lead to a hard freeze Monday morning.
An Extreme Cold Warning is in effect for all of Southeast Texas Sunday night as temperatures fall well below freezing into the low-mid 20. The daily record low temperature for January 26ht is 23 degrees, which will be challenged tomorrow with a forecast low of 21 for Houston. And factor in the gusty, northerly breeze and we’ll have wind chill values in the single digits overnight. Thankfully Monday will be on the sunny side with sunshine helping us warm into the mid-upper 30s. But that’s still pretty cold for Southeast Texas standards, especially seeing that normal high temperatures for late January as usually in the mid 60s.
Is this is a dangerous, pipe-bursting type of cold?
Yes. We expect temperatures to drop into the teens and low 20s on Sunday night and Monday morning everywhere except around Galveston Island. That’s when you’ll need to make sure your interior pipes are adequately insulated and protected from the cold. The wind will still be blowing, so wind chill factors will drop into the single digits and teens Monday morning, and some places northwest of Houston could have wind chills below zero. The National Weather Service has placed all of Southeast Texas under an Extreme Cold Warning during this timeframe. It’s important that all people, pets, and livestock are protected from the cold to avoid hypothermia.
What about any ice?
While the Houston area and locations south of Houston have largely avoided any frozen precipitation, the overall message remains the same: Be smart, be safe, and avoid bridges and overpasses, especially northwest of the Houston area where icy roads have been reported.
When will we be done with the freezing weather?
Temperatures should climb above freezing on Monday afternoon, but we expect another hard freeze on Monday night and Tuesday morning. A light freeze is possible Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, especially north of Houston. Then we should be done with this round of arctic air.
13 ALERT RADAR MAPS:
Southeast Texas
Houston
Harris County
Galveston County
Montgomery/Walker/San Jacinto/Polk/Grimes Counties
Fort Bend/Wharton/Colorado Counties
Brazoria/Matagorda Counties
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