Winter storm prep: Houston braces for ice, not snow

Houston winter weather watch: Latest as of Jan. 21

FOX 26 meteorologist Remeisha Shade gives a brief breakdown for the wintry weather this weekend. Then, Leslie DelasBour gets a look a roads being prepped for ice, Greg Groogan explains ERCOT’s weather watch, and Sherman Desselle gives tips on making your vehicle (electric or not) winterproof.

HOUSTON – Houston officials say all city departments are on deck as a potential winter storm approaches — with ice posing the biggest threat.

Winter storm watch: What Houston leaders are saying

What they’re saying:

During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Mayor John Whitmire emphasized preparation, noting that generators are being tested at water treatment plants and warming centers are being readied across the region. He acknowledged that while preparation is underway, ice remains unpredictable. 

City leaders say the worst conditions are expected Saturday afternoon through Tuesday morning, with the possibility that ice could move as far south as Montgomery County.

Roads & Public Works preparation

By the numbers:

Houston Public Works says crews are preparing to pre-treat roads up to 24 hours in advance using a brine, sand, and salt mixture.

Crews are responsible for 16,000 lanes of roadway — a distance officials say is roughly equivalent to traveling from Houston to Tokyo41 priority areas have been identified, including elevated bridges, overpasses, and major roadwaysDrivers are urged to stay off the roads if conditions deteriorate, especially during icing events Power concerns & CenterPoint response

Dig deeper:

CenterPoint Energy says it has activated its winter weather response plan, staging crews and equipment across the region and bringing in mutual assistance crews from out of state. 

Officials stress this weather system is not expected to create a power supply crisis like the 2021 freeze. Instead, the main concern is ice weighing down trees and power lines, which could lead to outages — particularly north of Houston. 

CenterPoint says crews are positioned to respond quickly if outages occur.

Emergency management & public guidance

What you can do:

Houston’s Office of Emergency Management says coordination began over the weekend as weather models shifted. Officials say the region is about 72 hours out, with clearer timing expected in the next 48 hours.

Residents are encouraged to: 

Prepare now and avoid last-minute travel Donate supplies early to warming centers Stay informed with OEM via social media and online in over 10 languages HoustonWinter Weather