New Year Brings Arctic Blast To Houston

Hunker down, wrap the pipes and bring in the puppies.

An arctic blast of cold will give Houston a rather frigid start to 2018, and give the region its first taste of winter in the new year.

The National Weather Services is predicting temperatures falling into the upper 20s late Sunday and early Monday morning as a strong arctic cold front pushes south.

The areas most affected in Houston by the freezing temperatures, will be north of downtown Houston, and will be felt most in areas of Cypress, Katy, Conroe, Humble and The Woodlands.

Gusty winds will accompany the front, providing a wind chill factor in the mid to upper teens through Tuesday.

Meanwhile, officials advise residents in the typically balmy Gulf Coast region to take precautions before the front arrives.

Those cold weather tips include:

• Insulate your pipes: Towels and duct tape are not always the best options, so recommendations include pipe insulation and slip on covers.
• Turn off sprinkler system and drain the backflow preventer: Water in the pipes can freeze and burst later on.
• If you live in an older home, let the faucets drip: Especially if you have old metal pipes
• Check CO2 and Smoke detectors in the home: CO poisoning is greater when it’s cold outside. Check the a batteries and replace as needed.
• Water your plants and then cover them up before the cold arrives.
• If you’re on the road, dress warm: Keep a blanket in your vehicle in case you become stranded.
• Bring your pets inside
• Lay low and stay inside

The Houston area is not expected to experience snow or freezing rain, like was experienced on Dec. 8, but areas north of Huntsville and College Station could see freezing rain or sleet, with areas closer to Dallas seeing a possibility of snow on New Year’s Eve.

Click the link to get the latest weather forecast in your area for the New Year.

Image: It won’t be as cold here, but dangerously low temperatures and wind chills the central and eastern United States are making outdoor activity difficult for many Americans. Little relief from the below normal temperatures is expected the first week of the New Year. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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