“We are doing everything possible from the city to prepare for this winter storm,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said.
What you need to know
A winter storm warning will be in effect from 6 p.m. Jan. 20-6 p.m. Jan. 21 for the Greater Houston area, according to a Jan. 19 briefing from the National Weather Service.
According to the NWS, snow amounts are expected to range from:
- Two to four inches in the northern areas of Houston
- Three to five inches in the central and eastern areas of Houston
- One to three inches in the southern areas of Houston
What they’re saying
During a Jan. 19 news conference, Whitmire and Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation at the Houston Airport System, confirmed the airports’ suspension. Szczesniak said airport system officials will monitor the weather throughout Jan. 21 and update their plan for Jan. 22 and beyond.
Szczesniak also said airlines have implemented travel waiver programs, which should allow those with planned flights to change them without paying change fees.
Staying prepared
Whitmire said city officials have been preparing for the weather since Jan. 16. He and other city officials spoke about a number of city efforts, including:
- The Public Works Department working with the Texas Department of Transportation to treat roadways with de-icing chemicals
- The 10 citywide warming centers that will be open 24/7 until Thursday
- Encouraging the homeless population to take shelter at warming centers
Thomas Muñoz, chief of the Houston Fire Department, recommended residents:
- Stay off the roads
- Be careful with possible carbon monoxide poisoning from generators
- Keep heaters a safe distance from anything flammable
What else?
Various entities around the Houston area have announced preparation plans and closures ahead of the winter storm.
School districts and colleges across Houston have announced plans to close Jan. 21-22. For a full list, click here.
In a Jan. 18 news release, CenterPoint Energy announced around 1,200 mutual aid workers will arrive in the area by Jan. 20. The company is also setting up three staging sites and pre-positioning crews to support any potential restoration efforts.
The Harris County Toll Road Authority announced Jan. 19 that crews were pretreating roadways ahead of the winter storm.
MD Anderson Cancer Center announced all outpatient locations will be closed for in-person appointments and procedures Jan. 21-22.
Houston Methodist announced that all elective procedures for Jan. 21 are canceled. The status of elective procedures Jan. 22 is to be determined. Additionally, while all Houston Methodist hospitals will remain open, all Houston Methodist clinics and imaging centers will be closed Jan. 21.
Memorial Hermann announced its Rockets Sports Medicine Institute locations, imaging locations and Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation locations will be closed Jan. 20 through noon Jan. 21.
Also of note
Most city facilities will be closed Jan. 21, Whitmire said. While city staff will be available to respond to issues that arise from the weather, he emphasized the need for residents and other entities to limit their activities during the weather event, citing the closure of schools and courts citywide.
“We’re going to be safe. We’re going to be responsive. But we need Houstonians to assist us by limiting their activities,” he said.
However, Whitmire and city officials encouraged residents to be prepared and “to use common sense and be smart.”
“If you have seniors in assisted living facilities, check on them. Get your food and water and supplies tomorrow. Prepare your home, your plants, your pets,” he said.
One more thing
Alongside the city of Houston, other city and county officials across the Houston region have announced the opening of warming shelters. For a full list, click here.
