Statewide Weather Watch Issued Ahead of Cold Front

With temperatures expected to range from the single digits in the panhandle to the mid-teens in Dallas and Midland, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) issued a statewide weather watch in anticipation of high energy demand.

Temperature Forecast

Overnight temperatures in Houston are forecasted to be in the low 30s on Wednesday and Thursday, while outlying areas could see temps dip into the mid-20s as much of Texas prepares for what could be the last major cold front of the winter season.

Precipitation — such as the “once in a generation” snowstorm the region experienced in January — is not forecasted to accompany the low temperatures during the middle of the week. But rain is expected Tuesday ahead of the cold front.

According to the National Weather Service, lows in Houston are expected to be 31 degrees on both Wednesday and Thursday. Areas north of the city, such as Conroe, could see temperatures drop into the mid to low 20s.

National Weather Service Graphic

ERCOT’s Response

With temperatures expected to range from the single digits in the Texas Panhandle to the mid-teens in Dallas and Midland, ERCOT issued a statewide weather watch in anticipation of high energy demand. ERCOT, which operates the state’s power grid, said in a statement Monday that grid conditions are expected to remain normal, but it will begin preparing for the potential for lower reserves.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Gov. Greg Abbott and other state officials, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas said widespread outages — like those experienced during the deadly winter storm of 2021 — are not expected.

“We expect to have adequate supply to meet demand during this cold weather event,” Vegas said. “I want to remind folks that some of the most impactful changes we’ve made over the last few years … Just this year, we’ve already done over 300 inspections of supply resources, power generators, more than 150 in our transmission service space and we’re going to continue to do more this February and finish up this winter.”

Preparations

Thomas Gleeson, the chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Texas, said he had no concerns regarding the cold weather’s possible effects on the grid.

“The generators have all confirmed that they have an adequate supply of fuel,” Gleeson said. “The transmission distribution utilities have cut back thousands of miles of vegetation to mitigate the impact of any falling trees or any ice, if that may occur.”

In preparation, Abbott said he has activated state emergency response agencies to be on alert.

“I have directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to increase the readiness level of the State Emergency Operations Center to Level 2, which is an escalated response ahead of the severe cold that’s coming our way,” he said. “More than 450 Texas Department of Transportation personnel prepared for winter weather by pretreating roads, bridges and overpasses with over 400,000 gallons of brine and more than 10,000 cubic yards of granular material.”

Conclusion

The state is preparing for a cold front that is expected to bring temperatures from the single digits in the panhandle to the mid-teens in Dallas and Midland. ERCOT has issued a statewide weather watch in anticipation of high energy demand, and state officials are preparing for the potential for lower reserves.

FAQs

Q: What is the forecasted temperature range for the state of Texas?
A: Temperatures are expected to range from the single digits in the panhandle to the mid-teens in Dallas and Midland.

Q: Is precipitation expected to accompany the cold front?
A: No, precipitation is not expected to accompany the cold front, but rain is expected on Tuesday ahead of the cold front.

Q: What is being done to prepare for the cold front?
A: ERCOT is preparing for the potential for lower reserves, and state officials are preparing for the potential for severe cold.