Winter Storms in Houston

Winter weather is rare in Greater Houston, and that rarity is the source of its danger. The region's homes, vehicles, water systems, and power infrastructure are built for heat, not for sustained cold. The February 2021 winter storm — known locally as Uri — produced multiple days of sub-freezing temperatures, widespread power outages, and burst pipes that left many households without water for a week or more.

What Happened in February 2021

Temperatures across the Houston metropolitan area fell into the teens and stayed below freezing for several consecutive days. The Texas electric grid, which operates largely independently of the national grid through ERCOT, experienced a cascading failure as natural gas, wind, and other generation sources iced over or lost fuel supply. Rolling outages became sustained outages for many neighborhoods. Pipes froze and burst across hundreds of thousands of homes, causing more damage in dollar terms than many hurricanes.

Pipe Protection

When a hard freeze is forecast, wrap exposed pipes with foam or fabric insulation, disconnect and drain garden hoses, cover outdoor spigots, and open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm interior air to circulate. Let a thin stream of water run from a faucet on the side of the house most exposed to cold. Know where your home's main water shutoff valve is located before you need it.

Heating Safely

Never use a gas stove or oven to heat a home. Never run a generator or grill indoors or in an attached garage. Carbon-monoxide poisoning during the 2021 freeze caused deaths and hundreds of hospital visits across the region. Space heaters should be plugged directly into wall outlets, kept at least three feet from anything flammable, and turned off when leaving a room or sleeping.

Ice on Roads

Houston bridges and overpasses freeze before surface roads because cold air circulates above and below them. Black ice is difficult to see and forms first on elevated sections of I-10, I-45, I-610, and the Beltway. When freezing temperatures coincide with precipitation, defer non-essential travel until road crews can treat affected sections. Most local jurisdictions are not equipped for large-scale road salting.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia can occur indoors as well as outdoors when home heating fails. Watch for shivering, confusion, slowed speech, and drowsiness. Older adults, infants, and people with chronic conditions are at highest risk. Move affected people to the warmest available space, layer dry blankets, and seek medical attention for severe symptoms.

Related: supplies, road conditions.