1/19/25 at 9 AM – This morning, the National Weather Service (NWS) updated its predictions for the Winter Storm Watch and Cold Weather Advisory issued yesterday. The possible accumulations of snow increased from 3″ to 5″ with ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch also possible.
Banding will lead to a disparity in snow totals. Some areas could receive less than 5″ and some could receive more. Exact locations of heavy snow bands are uncertain. Monitor the latest NWS forecasts for updates.
Wind gusts will be as high as 35 MPH for large portions of southeast Texas from Monday evening through Tuesday afternoon.
Plan on dangerous road conditions that will impact commutes.
Bitter Cold to Follow Snow
Bitter cold will follow the snow and ice. Tuesday night, NWS predicts temperatures will drop to 18º F at Bush Intercontinental Airport and barely reach above freezing on Wednesday. So, the snow and ice may not have time to melt before they refreeze.
Wind chills could drop to the single digits by Wednesday morning in some areas.
Gusty northerly winds today through Tuesday will result in wind chills in the 10’s and 20’s…so you’ll need layers if going outside.
How Cold Near You?
Many areas will fall below freezing on Monday evening and potentially remain below freezing into Wednesday afternoon. During that period, temperatures may only warm a few degrees above freezing. Sub-freezing temps could still around for 36-45 hours.
Monday AM Forecasted Low Temperatures:
North of HWY 105: 22-26
North of I-10: 25-29
Houston metro (inside Beltway): 27-29
Coastal Counties: 28-31
Beaches/Galveston: 31-34
Tuesday AM Forecasted Low Temperatures:
North of HWY 105: 24-26
North of I-10: 25-28
Houston metro (inside Beltway): 27-29
Coastal Counties: 27-30
Beaches/Galveston: 30-32
Wednesday AM Forecasted Low Temperatures:
North of HWY 105: 14-17
North of I-10: 15-18
Houston metro (inside Beltway): 17-19
Coastal Counties: 19-22
Beaches/Galveston: 28-30
Precautions include Pipe Protection
Maximum preparations and precautions for sub-freezing conditions for many hours should be completed today. Failure to complete proper precautions may result in significant damage to vegetation and infrastructure.
Protect sensitive vegetation.
Protect any exposed outdoor pipes (sprinkler systems should be shut off and properly drained). Pipes in attics and along exterior walls of structures could freeze at these levels.
Prepare proper shelter and warmth for animals and livestock and make sure water sources are not frozen.
Persons should limit outside exposure to a minimum.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Winter-Storm-Watch-2.png?fit=725%2C544&ssl=1544725adminadmin2025-01-19 08:58:412025-01-19 09:00:50NWS Now Predicting Up to 5″ of Snow, Sleet
1/18/25 – Don’t get a flood in your attic. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a cold weather advisory and a winter storm watch for the entire Houston region. Sub-freezing temperatures and extreme wind chills mixed with ice and snow are expected. The:
Cold-weather advisory runs from 3 AM to 12 PM on January 19th.
Winter-storm watch takes effect on Monday January 20, 2025 at 6PM and will last until Tuesday at the same time.
For more details on each, see below.
Cold Weather Advisory Details
WHAT: Very cold wind chills below 20 degrees are expected.
WHERE: Portions of south central and southeast Texas.
WHEN: From 3 AM to noon CST Sunday, January 19, 2025
IMPACTS: Wind chill values can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure.
PRECAUTIONS: Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. Keep pets indoors as much as possible. Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills inside.
Winter Storm Watch Details.
WHEN: Monday evening through Tuesday afternoon
WHAT: Heavy mixed precipitation is possible with total snow and sleet accumulations up to 3 inches and locally higher amounts. Ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch possible for portions of south central and southeast Texas.
IMPACTS: Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday morning and evening commutes.
PRECAUTIONS:
Be where you plan to be by 6:00 PM Monday for the duration of this winter storm event.
Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation. Delay all travel if possible.
If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility.
Leave plenty of room between you and the motorist ahead of you, and allow extra time to reach your destination.
Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns. Make sure your car is winterized and in good working order.
Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist provided this additional detail.
As a cold front moves through the area today, look for increasingly colder conditions into Sunday and next week. Expect a substantial drop in the temperatures tonight into Sunday.
The freezing line will make it down toward the north and western sides of the metro area Sunday morning. When combined with gusty northerly winds of 15-25mph, wind chills will fall into the 10’s and 20’s for much of the area.
A more significant freeze is likely Monday morning with lows into the 20’s for much of the area and into the low 20’s north of HWY 105. Expect similar lows on Tuesday morning. Coldest temps will be on Wednesday morning with possible ice/snow cover and clearing skies resulting in maximum cooling conditions.
The duration of sub-freezing temperatures will be critical. Much of the area looks to fall below freezing Monday early evening and not rise above freezing until Wednesday afternoon.
Even then, it may only be a few degrees above freezing for a few hours. We could potentially experience sub-freezing temps for 36-45 hours over much of the area – and possibly longer.
Monday AM Forecasted Low Temperatures:
North of HWY 105: 22-26
North of I-10: 25-29
Houston metro (inside Beltway): 27-29
Coastal Counties: 28-30
Beaches/Galveston: 31-33
Tuesday AM Forecasted Low Temperatures:
North of HWY 105: 22-26
North of I-10: 26-30
Houston metro (inside Beltway): 27-29
Coastal Counties: 28-30
Beaches/Galveston: 30-32
Wednesday AM Forecasted Low Temperatures:
North of HWY 105: 17-20
North of I-10: 18-21
Houston metro (inside Beltway): 19-21
Coastal Counties: 19-24
Beaches/Galveston: 30-32
Maximum preparations and precautions for sub-freezing conditions for many hours should be completed this weekend. Failure to complete proper precautions may result in significant damage to vegetation and infrastructure.
Winter Precipitation:
Once the cold air is in place on Monday, another front will move through. Expect snow along and north of I-10 with the potential for a mixture of freezing rain/sleet/snow south of I-10. Models suggest the storm may move across the area in bands, resulting in much higher precipitation totals locally. This scenario occurred in 2004, 2008 and 2009.
Snow accumulations of 1-3 inches (or more locally) are possible along and north of I-10. Expect lower amounts south of I-10.
There is a:
70-85% chance much of the area will see at least a tenth of an inch of snow.
35-50% chance the area south of I-10 will get ice.
We could still be dealing with travel issues into Thursday morning. Aviation will be heavily impacted. Snow will clog runways and de-icing of planes will likely be necessary.
Forecast Graphics
Monday AM Low Temps:
Tuesday AM Low Temps:
Wednesday AM Low Temps:
Probabilities of Snow and Freezing Rain:
Snow Accumulation through Tuesday 600am (additional accumulation is likely after 600am)
Ice Accumulation through Tuesday 600am (additional accumulation is likely after 600am)
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/18/25based on information from NOAA, NWS and Jeff Lindner
1/17/25 – According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2024 was a year for climate records and near records. 2024 was the:
Warmest year in the contiguous United States in 130 years
Third wettest year of the climate record in the contiguous United States
Second worst year for tornadoes (with 1,735 confirmed to date)
Second highest year for billion-dollar weather disasters in 45 years. Twenty-seven cost a total of $182.7 billion (which was the fourth highest price tag on record).
Fourth highest year for hurricanes making landfall in the U.S.
Graphic Recap of 2024’s Most Significant Climate and Weather Events
The maps below come from the NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). The first shows significant climate events during 2024.
Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters
The second map shows the location and dates of the 27 billion-dollar disasters.
NOAA says 2024 ranks second highest for number of billion-dollar disasters in a calendar year, one event behind 2023’s record 28 events. The total annual cost in 2024 – $182.7 billion – may rise by several billion as additional costs from identified events are reported.
Since records began in 1980, the U.S. has sustained 403 separate weather and climate disasters where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion. All costs are adjusted to 2024 dollars based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The total cost of these 403 events exceeds $2.915 trillion.
Since 1980, the U.S. has experienced an average of nine billion-dollar disasters per year. So 2024 tripled the average.
Seventeen states (Texas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine) ranked warmest on record while all but two remaining states across the Lower 48 ranked as one of the warmest five years on record.
Annual precipitation for the contiguous U.S. was 31.58 inches, 1.66 inches above average, ranking in the wettest third of the historical record (1895–2024).
The Atlantic basin saw 18 named tropical cyclones and five landfalling hurricanes during 2024—an above-average season. Hurricane Helene was the seventh-most-costly Atlantic hurricane on record.
The tornado count for 2024 was second highest on record behind 2004 (1,817 tornadoes) with at least 1,735 confirmed tornadoes. When looking at EF-2+ tornadoes, 2024 was the most active year since the historic 2011 season.
Be cautious about generalizing about trends from these numbers. Almost every one of the stats references other record years from decades or even a century ago.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/17/2025 based on information from NOAA and NCEI
2698 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Disasters-in-2024.png?fit=1637%2C889&ssl=18891637adminadmin2025-01-17 16:36:282025-01-17 16:36:312024 Climate Records, Near Records
NWS Now Predicting Up to 5″ of Snow, Sleet
1/19/25 at 9 AM – This morning, the National Weather Service (NWS) updated its predictions for the Winter Storm Watch and Cold Weather Advisory issued yesterday. The possible accumulations of snow increased from 3″ to 5″ with ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch also possible.
Banding will lead to a disparity in snow totals. Some areas could receive less than 5″ and some could receive more. Exact locations of heavy snow bands are uncertain. Monitor the latest NWS forecasts for updates.
Wind gusts will be as high as 35 MPH for large portions of southeast Texas from Monday evening through Tuesday afternoon.
Timing of Precipitation
Plan on dangerous road conditions that will impact commutes.
Bitter Cold to Follow Snow
Bitter cold will follow the snow and ice. Tuesday night, NWS predicts temperatures will drop to 18º F at Bush Intercontinental Airport and barely reach above freezing on Wednesday. So, the snow and ice may not have time to melt before they refreeze.
Wind chills could drop to the single digits by Wednesday morning in some areas.
Gusty northerly winds today through Tuesday will result in wind chills in the 10’s and 20’s…so you’ll need layers if going outside.
How Cold Near You?
Many areas will fall below freezing on Monday evening and potentially remain below freezing into Wednesday afternoon. During that period, temperatures may only warm a few degrees above freezing. Sub-freezing temps could still around for 36-45 hours.
Monday AM Forecasted Low Temperatures:
Tuesday AM Forecasted Low Temperatures:
Wednesday AM Forecasted Low Temperatures:
Precautions include Pipe Protection
Maximum preparations and precautions for sub-freezing conditions for many hours should be completed today. Failure to complete proper precautions may result in significant damage to vegetation and infrastructure.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/19/25
2700 Days since Hurricane Harvey
NWS Issues Cold Weather Advisory, Winter Storm Watch
1/18/25 – Don’t get a flood in your attic. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a cold weather advisory and a winter storm watch for the entire Houston region. Sub-freezing temperatures and extreme wind chills mixed with ice and snow are expected. The:
For more details on each, see below.
Cold Weather Advisory Details
WHAT: Very cold wind chills below 20 degrees are expected.
WHERE: Portions of south central and southeast Texas.
WHEN: From 3 AM to noon CST Sunday, January 19, 2025
IMPACTS: Wind chill values can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure.
PRECAUTIONS: Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. Keep pets indoors as much as possible. Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills inside.
Winter Storm Watch Details.
WHEN: Monday evening through Tuesday afternoon
WHAT: Heavy mixed precipitation is possible with total snow and sleet accumulations up to 3 inches and locally higher amounts. Ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch possible for portions of south central and southeast Texas.
IMPACTS: Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday morning and evening commutes.
PRECAUTIONS:
WHERE: Houston; Trinity; Madison; Walker; San Jacinto; Polk; Burleson; Brazos; Washington; Grimes; Montgomery; Northern Liberty; Colorado; Austin; Waller; Inland Harris; Chambers; Wharton; Fort Bend; Inland Jackson; Inland Matagorda; Inland Brazoria; Inland Galveston; Southern Liberty; Coastal Harris; Coastal Jackson; Coastal Matagorda; Coastal Brazoria; Coastal Galveston; Matagorda Islands; Brazoria Islands; Galveston Island; Bolivar Peninsula.
What to Expect within Metro Area
Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist provided this additional detail.
As a cold front moves through the area today, look for increasingly colder conditions into Sunday and next week. Expect a substantial drop in the temperatures tonight into Sunday.
The freezing line will make it down toward the north and western sides of the metro area Sunday morning. When combined with gusty northerly winds of 15-25mph, wind chills will fall into the 10’s and 20’s for much of the area.
A more significant freeze is likely Monday morning with lows into the 20’s for much of the area and into the low 20’s north of HWY 105. Expect similar lows on Tuesday morning. Coldest temps will be on Wednesday morning with possible ice/snow cover and clearing skies resulting in maximum cooling conditions.
The duration of sub-freezing temperatures will be critical. Much of the area looks to fall below freezing Monday early evening and not rise above freezing until Wednesday afternoon.
Even then, it may only be a few degrees above freezing for a few hours. We could potentially experience sub-freezing temps for 36-45 hours over much of the area – and possibly longer.
Monday AM Forecasted Low Temperatures:
Tuesday AM Forecasted Low Temperatures:
Wednesday AM Forecasted Low Temperatures:
Winter Precipitation:
Once the cold air is in place on Monday, another front will move through. Expect snow along and north of I-10 with the potential for a mixture of freezing rain/sleet/snow south of I-10. Models suggest the storm may move across the area in bands, resulting in much higher precipitation totals locally. This scenario occurred in 2004, 2008 and 2009.
Snow accumulations of 1-3 inches (or more locally) are possible along and north of I-10. Expect lower amounts south of I-10.
There is a:
We could still be dealing with travel issues into Thursday morning. Aviation will be heavily impacted. Snow will clog runways and de-icing of planes will likely be necessary.
Forecast Graphics
Monday AM Low Temps:
Tuesday AM Low Temps:
Wednesday AM Low Temps:
Probabilities of Snow and Freezing Rain:
Snow Accumulation through Tuesday 600am (additional accumulation is likely after 600am)
Ice Accumulation through Tuesday 600am (additional accumulation is likely after 600am)
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/18/25 based on information from NOAA, NWS and Jeff Lindner
2699 Days since Hurricane Harvey
2024 Climate Records, Near Records
1/17/25 – According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2024 was a year for climate records and near records. 2024 was the:
Graphic Recap of 2024’s Most Significant Climate and Weather Events
The maps below come from the NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). The first shows significant climate events during 2024.
Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters
The second map shows the location and dates of the 27 billion-dollar disasters.
NOAA says 2024 ranks second highest for number of billion-dollar disasters in a calendar year, one event behind 2023’s record 28 events. The total annual cost in 2024 – $182.7 billion – may rise by several billion as additional costs from identified events are reported.
Since records began in 1980, the U.S. has sustained 403 separate weather and climate disasters where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion. All costs are adjusted to 2024 dollars based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The total cost of these 403 events exceeds $2.915 trillion.
This is also a record 14th consecutive year when the U.S. experienced 10 or more billion-dollar disasters.
Other Stats and Key Points
The average annual temperature of the contiguous U.S. was 55.5°F, 3.5°F above average and the warmest in the 130-year record.
Seventeen states (Texas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine) ranked warmest on record while all but two remaining states across the Lower 48 ranked as one of the warmest five years on record.
Annual precipitation for the contiguous U.S. was 31.58 inches, 1.66 inches above average, ranking in the wettest third of the historical record (1895–2024).
The Atlantic basin saw 18 named tropical cyclones and five landfalling hurricanes during 2024—an above-average season. Hurricane Helene was the seventh-most-costly Atlantic hurricane on record.
The tornado count for 2024 was second highest on record behind 2004 (1,817 tornadoes) with at least 1,735 confirmed tornadoes. When looking at EF-2+ tornadoes, 2024 was the most active year since the historic 2011 season.
Hurricane Helene’s extensive damage topped the list of 27 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disaster events identified during 2024.
Be cautious about generalizing about trends from these numbers. Almost every one of the stats references other record years from decades or even a century ago.
For More Information
For more detailed climate information, check out NOAA’s comprehensive Annual 2024 U.S. Climate Report. For additional information on the statistics provided here, visit NOAA’s Climate at a Glance and National Maps webpages.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/17/2025 based on information from NOAA and NCEI
2698 Days since Hurricane Harvey