Another Freeze Is Coming to Houston
Houston weather still confuses me. I made a TikTok last week where it was sunny the day before, and was pouring the day after. I received comments about how it rains, snows, and suddenly becomes spring all in one week, that they pack their cars with supplies for all seasons because you’ll never know what you need. I was already prepared for shorts & shirt weather, but it changed overnight. There’s another freeze warning y’all, 6 weeks after it snowed!
Having moved from Malaysia, where the weather is either hot or rainy (lol!) to Houston's generally mild climate, I'm finding this week's cold snap to be quite the surprise...again! I’ve been reading news articles about what to expect, and I’ve received multiple emails from our apartment complex & GEXA energy on how to prepare for the freeze.
What You Need to Know
Houston is bracing for what might be the last freeze of the winter, with temperatures expected to drop into the 20s and wind chills hitting single digits. Our city officials, led by Mayor John Whitmire, have already announced that 12 warming centers will be opening to provide much-needed shelter. It's heartwarming to see the community rally together, especially for those without a warm place to stay. You can find these shelter locations on the Office of Emergency Management's website.
Precautionary Measures: Apartment Edition
As a rookie in Houston, here's some advice from GEXA & my apartment complex that’s been a lifesaver for ensuring those pipes stay unfrozen:
Drip, Drip, Drip: Let all faucets in your apartment drip continuously, day and night. This includes every sink, bathtub, and shower. Open the drains to prevent any unwanted ponding—trust me, it's easier than cleaning up a mini indoor lake!
Keep It Toasty: While it's tempting to conserve energy, don’t turn off your heater completely. Set it to a reasonable range of 50-75 degrees Fahrenheit and open those cabinet doors under your kitchen and bathroom sinks to keep the heat circulating around your plumbing.
Cover your windows with insulated curtains to keep the warmth inside.
Set ceiling fans on reverse to circulate the warm air that naturally rises to the ceiling back down to where you are.
Open blinds, drapes, or shades during the day (if the sun is shining) to let natural warmth into your home.
Let’s all keep a close eye on our local weather advisories and check in on our neighbors, particularly the vulnerable among us. Stay warm, stay safe, and here’s to hoping this freeze is the last gasp of winter before we jump back into the sunny embrace of Houston!