As Houston braces for freezing temperatures and up to 6 inches of snow, the Storm Tracker 2 Weather Team will provide live updates to help you stay safe throughout the storm.
11 a.m. update, Brittany Begley:
9 a.m. update, Justin Stapleton:
If you need to prep, today is the day to do it. There’s still plenty of time. Our generators are showing a low cloud deck moving in, which has led to some adjustments to today’s forecast. It looks like temperatures may stay cooler than expected—around 38 degrees instead of 40 to 42. Right now, we’re at 31 degrees, after spending most of the morning in the 20s. It’s still fairly dry, which means the initial waves of moisture likely won’t hit the ground until late tonight. While radar might show scattered showers, much of it won’t reach the surface yet.
The Storm Tracker 2 radar shows quiet conditions overall, but south of San Antonio, there’s a quick burst of sleet appearing. Again, it’s likely not reaching the ground yet, but with cold air already in place, it’s only a matter of time before the moisture moves in. Once it does, conditions will change quickly.
Currently, College Station is at 28 degrees, with temperatures across the metro ranging from 30 to 32, and Galveston at 35. This may be where we stay this afternoon, as highs aren’t expected to climb much above the mid- to upper-30s. Winter storm warnings begin at 6 p.m., stretching from south of Corpus Christi to the border and across southeast Texas, into Beaumont, Lake Charles, and parts of Louisiana. Some areas, including Baton Rouge and Lafayette, could see 6 to 10 inches of snow.
This is shaping up to be a major Gulf Coast storm over the next 24 to 36 hours. If you haven’t prepped, do it now. By this evening, temperatures will hold in the mid- to low-30s, and that’s when the rain will begin transitioning to sleet and eventually snow. This changeover could start as early as 3 a.m. or as late as 5 to 6 a.m., with snow likely continuing through lunchtime. That’s a solid 6 to 8 hours of snowfall, which will ice over the roads.
By Wednesday morning, temperatures will drop into the teens, and we likely won’t see much melting until Thursday. One of our short-range models shows us staying above freezing—around 33 to 34 degrees—until about 11 p.m., with sleet and very cold rain beginning. Northern counties may start seeing snow earlier. By 3 to 6 a.m., as temperatures dip into the upper 20s, snow will spread across the metro and eventually reach the coast. Galveston could even see snowfall, with a couple of inches possible.
By 10 or 11 a.m. Tuesday, the snow will start tapering off, leaving a few flurries behind. If snow totals reach 3 to 6 inches, temperatures likely won’t rise much above 31 to 32 degrees, even with some sunshine. This means just a brief period above freezing before plunging back into the deep freeze Wednesday morning.
Another model shows slightly more aggressive snow totals—up to 5 or 6 inches in some areas—but even the lower end of the forecast suggests significant impacts. Roads will remain icy and frozen through Wednesday, with only brief melting. By Thursday and Friday, morning lows will still be in the 20s, though afternoons will climb into the 50s.
Best advice: Prep today and be ready for icy roads through Wednesday. Conditions should improve by Thursday or Friday, but elevated roads and flyovers, like the Fred Hartman Bridge and sections of the Beltway near CityCentre, will likely stay closed for several days.
8 a.m. update, Justin Stapleton: It’s chilly out there if you’re heading out early to find a spot for the parade. Over the next hour, temperatures will stay in the mid to upper 20s across much of the metro area. With the wind chill, it feels like the low 20s. Be prepared for a very uncomfortable morning, and it’s going to feel even worse by tomorrow and Wednesday, depending on road conditions and what we see on the ground.
If you haven’t prepped yet, today is your day. We’ll reach around 40 degrees this afternoon, but I cannot stress enough the importance of being ready. We’re likely looking at some light rain tonight, eventually changing over to sleet and then snow as we head into Tuesday morning and early afternoon. We could see multiple inches of snow. Winter storm warnings begin at 6 p.m. and last until Tuesday afternoon.
Here’s a look at the future track: By 7 or 8 p.m., we’ll likely just see cloudy skies with maybe a few sprinkles. However, after midnight, rain will begin changing over to sleet, and by 4 or 5 a.m., some areas will see bursts of snow. By sunrise, it should transition completely to snow, and we could see heavy snowfall—especially in the brighter bands showing up near the bay—lasting through about noon. That’s six to seven hours of potentially heavy snow, which is why we’re expecting multiple inches by the time it’s over.
In fact, one of our latest models suggests we could see anywhere from 2 to 4 inches, but likely closer to 3 to 6 inches in parts of southeast Harris County, depending on where the heaviest bands set up. Snow is easier to manage than ice because it can be pushed aside, but the challenge is the temperatures. Tomorrow, we may barely reach 32 degrees in the afternoon before quickly dropping into the teens by Wednesday morning. That will keep roads icy throughout Wednesday, even with plenty of sunshine.
These icy conditions could persist into Thursday and Friday. While melting will begin with the sunshine, it may be closer to the end of the week before some untreated roads become safe for travel. Stay cautious, especially in those areas.
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