Winter storm warning and ice risk widen across southeast Texas:
HOUSTON – The winter storm warning has been expanded south and is now covering almost all of southeast Texas, reaching into some coastal cities. While a winter weather advisory remains right along the coast, the recently broadened warning area means more people should brace for icy conditions. Accumulating ice around a tenth of an inch is expected within the warning zone. Our far northern and northeastern counties are in an ice storm warning where as much as a quarter inch thick may accumulate.
Even small amounts of ice will freeze quickly on bridges and overpasses, raising the risk of slick travel. But for areas facing higher totals, the ice storm warning could be especially challenging. This could bring down trees, break branches, and weigh on power lines, making power outages possible along with treacherous driving.
Extreme cold expected through Tuesday morning:
On top of the ice threat, an extreme cold warning has been extended through 12 p.m. Tuesday. Temperatures are forecast to fall below freezing in most areas early Sunday morning, with parts north of Houston dipping into the mid-20s, and a few spots along the coast (such as Galveston) staying just above freezing for a time.
It’s the cloud cover that will play a key role Sunday: if clouds clear out for even a few hours in the afternoon, highs may sneak just above freezing, helping melt some of the ice. But if thick clouds linger, some locations could stay below 30 degrees and remain icy through Monday morning.
Speaking of Monday morning, temperatures take a bigger plunge, teens north and west of Houston, with the city itself around 22 degrees and coastal spots near 28. Tuesday morning is predicted to be the coldest, with lower 20s in Houston, teens to the north and west, and biting wind chills making it feel even colder. Gusty north winds of 10 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph, will add to the chill, and wind chills may dip into the negatives in some outlying areas.
You can watch the full video forecast here:
As always, watch for updates on Click2Houston.com and the KPRC 2 live stream for the latest forecasts, warnings, and radar imagery. If you capture ice photos or videos in your neighborhood, share them with us at Click2Pins.