Texas Winter Storm: Houston Area Conditions and Forecast

Winter Storm Update for Houston

• ❄️ Icy precipitation is moving into the Houston area, with timing closely matching earlier predictions around 2:00 a.m. Sunday.
• 🗺️ The storm involves a mix of snow (dark blue), sleet (purple), and freezing rain (pink), with green indicating plain rain.
• ⚡ A notable phenomenon is thundersleet occurring in areas like Washington County, where convective showers are falling as ice pellets in sub-freezing temperatures.

Temperature and Road Conditions

• 🌡️ Temperatures are in the mid to upper 20s in many areas, dropping below freezing in places like Huntsville.
• ⚠️ Freezing rain is expected to create a glaze on surfaces like tree branches, power poles, and especially metal objects, with bridges and overpasses icing up first.
• 🚗 The ground is already wet in some areas, and with temperatures below freezing, wet surfaces are expected to turn icy and dangerous for driving.

Storm Magnitude and Forecast

• 🌍 The storm has significant reach, with winter weather alerts extending from the US-Mexico border to the Canadian border, covering 2,200 miles.
• ⏰ Freezing conditions are expected to persist from approximately 2-3 a.m. through noon on Sunday, with temperatures potentially rising above freezing by Sunday afternoon with sunshine.
• 📉 Models suggest freezing rain could reach the coast by early Monday, but conditions are expected to clear by mid-morning.

Ice Accumulation and Cold Snap

• 🧊 Expect ice accumulation of about a tenth to a quarter of an inch, along with sleet, making conditions overall icy.
• ⚡ While widespread power outages are not anticipated, it's advised to keep devices charged.
• 🥶 Following the ice, a frigid and dangerous cold snap is expected Monday morning, with air temperatures in the teens to 20s and wind chills in the single digits.

Long-Term Outlook and Warnings

• ⚠️ Weather impact alerts are in effect for Sunday (icy conditions) and Monday (hard freeze).
• 🏠 The cold could lead to bursting pipes, and it's crucial to be prepared for dangerous cold.
• 📈 Temperatures are forecast to rebound significantly by Wednesday and Thursday, with the next rain chance by the weekend.
• 🚫 This storm is not expected to be a repeat of the 2021 event, with the best-case scenario being power retention and melting by midday Monday.