Southeast Texas – An Extreme Cold Warning is now in effect across much of southeast and south-central Texas as a prolonged Arctic outbreak is expected to bring dangerously low wind chills and hard freeze conditions through Monday.
According to the National Weather Service in Houston/Galveston, wind chills could drop as low as 5 degrees below zero well inland, with values near 10 degrees along the coast from 6 p.m. Saturday through noon CST Monday. The warning covers a wide area including Houston, The Woodlands, Conroe, College Station, Baytown, Pearland, Sugar Land, Galveston, League City, Freeport, and Wharton, along with surrounding inland and coastal counties.
In addition to the warning, an Extreme Cold Watch has been issued from Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning, as another surge of cold air may keep wind chills in the 5 to 15 degree range.
Forecasters warn that frostbite and hypothermia can occur quickly if exposed skin is not protected. The extended period of freezing temperatures could also lead to ruptured water pipes, especially in uninsulated structures.
Residents are urged to dress in layers, protect pets and livestock, wrap or drain pipes, and check on elderly neighbors. Officials stress the importance of using heaters safely and never operating generators or grills indoors as the dangerous cold persists.
