HOUSTON – Do not panic Houston. Our upcoming freeze will NOT be like 2021. It will still be bitterly cold and you WILL need to prepare the 4 Ps, but it will not be devastating. Let’s get into it.
Temp Difference From Feb. 2021:
Although we will be freezing and we will see wind chills in the single digits, actual air temperatures will not be near as cold. In 2021, lows dropped to the single digits and teens.
- READ MORE: Major hard freeze headed to Houston
This year, we’re forecasting our coldest temperatures between the upper-teens and the lower-20s for Tuesday morning. The maximum time in hard freeze conditions will likely be less than 24 hours and most importantly, we’ll be dry versus in Feb. 2021 when the cold air was already in place and we saw a storm bring snow and ice, crippling the entire state.
It will not last as long:
We are currently forecasting two nights below freezing, Monday and Tuesday night. In 2021, we had seven nights in a row with lows below freezing.
We will not have widespread accumulating wintery precipitation:
As the cold front passes through early Monday morning (~2 AM) there could be a light wintry mix. At this time the ground will still be warm to where accumulations are going to be very minimal, if any.
On Valentine’s Day 2021, all of Texas was under a winter storm warning because ice, sleet, and snow was likely through the state. This was especially dangerous because temperatures stayed cold for so long. The ice accumulated on trees which took out the power.
Still, make sure to prepare for intense cold:
Although we will not be as cold you should still prepare! Tuesday will be the biggest impact day, so make sure pets have a shelter that is protected from the wind and cold and cover the plants and outdoor pipes, especially those sprinkler and pool pipes!