The long-advertised entrance has arrived, bringing a pointy dose if frigid air diving down from the Arctic Circle. Wind gusts this afternoon have exceeded 40 mph at a number of areas this afternoon, together with a prime pace of 48 mph at Passion Airport. As of 5:30 pm CT, air temperatures stay simply above freezing within the Houston metro space, however that won’t final lengthy because the mercury begins to drop tonight.
Cooldown
Houston is headed into the icebox for a stable 36 hours. Lows tonight will doubtless fall into the mid- to upper-teens for all of the metro space, except for the instant coast, which can maintain at 20 levels or barely above. Even will full sunshine on Friday, excessive temperatures could solely briefly attain 32 levels in the course of the afternoon, whereas areas additional inland could solely prime out at about 30 levels. Circumstances might be very chilly once more on Friday evening, with lows maybe solely 2 to five levels hotter than Thursday evening. By Saturday, lastly, the realm ought to see highs of round 40 levels.
The excellent news is that there isn’t any snow or ice on roadways, so except for blustery circumstances it’s protected to drive all through the better Houston space and past. Roads will stay dry by Christmas Day and past.
Energy
One of many main issues in the course of the February 2021 freeze was the shortage of energy, when “rolling” blackouts grew to become everlasting attributable to poor administration of the Texas electrical energy grid and a scarcity of oversight for correct winterization of energy crops. It does seem this downside has been solved. ERCOT is reporting extra energy producing capability, and expects to have electrical energy to fulfill calls for in a single day as temperatures plummet throughout the state. You’ll be able to monitor provide and demand in actual time right here.
Subsequent put up
Matt could have a complete replace for you by round 6:30 am CT on Friday. Till such time, please keep heat, ensure that your pets and neighbors have the shelter they want, and handle each other. It’s the vacation season, in spite of everything!
