Winter Storm Briefing for Southeast Texas Houston/Galveston 1 pm Saturday February 13th, 2021 Overview: Dangerous to Bring Life-Threatening Impacts to SE Texas ● A period of moderate , sleet and freezing rain is expected Sunday night and Monday for all areas followed by bitterly cold conditions Monday night and Tuesday. Snow, and cold will likely pose a threat to life and property with hazardous road conditions, burst pipes and water manes, damage to infrastructure and at power outages. Risk of hypothermia for anyone outside who is not dressed properly. ● Today and Sunday, temperatures will be mainly near or just below freezing for areas north and west of Houston. Periods of freezing rain or drizzle expected, especially tonight and Sunday creating icy conditions there. Might include far W and NW Harris. ● Now is the time to insulate pipes, make plans to avoid travel and shelter indoors, especially for the Sunday night through Tuesday morning time frame. ● Another winter storm possible on Wednesday although could be more rain for southern zones. Still an ice threat, especially northern zones. Plenty of uncertainty still with that storm. Current Conditions

Temperatures at or below freezing parts of NW counties

Blue line denotes freezing line (32F)

Periods of freezing rain, freezing drizzle for those areas, especially tonight and Sunday. Light icing may occur especially on objects and elevated surfaces. Current Conditions

Icy road conditions not far to the west!

DriveTexas.org Watches, Warnings, Advisories

Winter in effect for NW counties (pink) for periods of freezing rain and drizzle today and tomorrow, then heavier snow, sleet and freezing rain and bitterly cold conditions Sunday night and Monday. Might include far NW and W Harris too.

For rest of area (darker blue) Winter Storm Watch in effect for potential for snow, sleet and freezing rain Sunday night and Monday then bitterly cold conditions into Tuesday afternoon. Temperatures Monday morning dropping to 10 to 15 Bryan, and Min Temperature around 20 Houston with ice and snow falling! Hazardous conditions! Forecast

Low Temperature Low Temperature Sunday Morning Monday Morning Temperatures Tuesday morning dropping to low single digits Bryan, Min Temperature around 10 Houston and 20 Galveston! Dangerous cold. Forecast

Low Temperature Low Temperature Tuesday Morning Wednesday Morning Wind chill indices low single digits Monday for Bryan Wind Chill Temperature Forecast and below zero Tuesday; Houston around 10 Monday and near zero Tuesday. Dangerous cold!

Monday Morning Mon Night/Tuesday Morning Snowfall Forecast

Snow and sleet totals of 2 to 3 inches likely NW including Burleson, Brazos, Washington and Houston counties.

1 to 2 inches for Huntsville, Conroe, Brenham, less than an inch for Houston.

These forecast amounts can change as precipitation type forecast very challenging for this storm.

Will refine these values going forward. Ice Accumulation Forecast (from Freezing Rain) Freezing rain, ice accretion of a tenth to a quarter of an inch over muco of the area but with pockets greater than a quarter of an inch likely.

Based on this as well as wind and power demand, would expect at least scattered power outages.

A higher amount of freezing rain could imply more widespread power issues.

Will refine these values going forward. Bryan/College Station https://www.weather.gov/forecastpoints (click on point on map) https://go.usa.gov/xsCPw

Periods of light sleet, freezing rain and freezing drizzle through Sunday, then heavier snow, sleet and freezing rain Sunday night and Monday.

Bitterly cold Monday night and Tuesday.

More snow and ice possible with another storm on Wednesday! Huntsville https://www.weather.gov/forecastpoints (click on point on map) https://go.usa.gov/xsYSq

Periods of light sleet, freezing rain and freezing drizzle through Sunday, then heavier snow, sleet and freezing rain Sunday night and Monday.

Bitterly cold Monday night and Tuesday.

More snow and ice possible with another storm on Wednesday! Houston/Harris Co https://www.weather.gov/forecastpoints (click on point on map) https://go.usa.gov/xsCmK

Periods of light rain and drizzle through Sunday, then heavier snow, sleet and freezing rain Sunday night and Monday. Patches of freezing drizzle possible tonight and Sunday for far W and NW Harris.

Bitterly cold Monday night and Tuesday.

More rain or possibly ice with another storm on Wednesday! Will depend on how quickly temperatures recover. Galveston https://www.weather.gov/forecastpoints (click on point on map) https://go.usa.gov/xsCyc

A period of rain then freezing rain and sleet expected Sunday night and Monday.

Bitterly cold Monday night and Tuesday.

More rain or possibly ice with another storm on Wednesday! Not expecting any winter precip with the next one for Galveston but will have to monitor. Precipitation Type Maps A wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain expected Sunday night and Monday. Likely a cold rain at the onset at the coast. Best chance for acccumulating snow and sleet NW counties. Freezing rain would have the biggest impact. GFS Model Midnight Monday GFS Model 6 am Monday GFS Model Noon Monday Precipitation Type Maps Next storm system Wednesday wamer but still an ice threat especially for northern counties. Will need to monitor.

GFS Model 3 pm Wednesday ECMWF Model Noon Wednesday Marine Hazards

Gale Watch to be issued. likely with Sunday Night…Northeast winds 20 to 30 knots 25 to 35 knot winds and gusts to 40 knots becoming north 30 to 40 knots after midnight. Seas 5 to expected Sunday night and Monday for 7 feet with occasional seas up to 8 feet building to 8 to Coastal waters. 11 feet with occasional seas up to 14 feet after midnight. Rain in the evening and overnight. High winds and seas especially Sunday night and Monday with passage of coastal Monday…North winds 25 to 35 knots becoming 25 to low. 30 knots in the afternoon. Seas 10 to 13 feet with occasional seas up to 17 feet subsiding to 8 to 11 feet with occasional seas up to 14 feet in the afternoon. Rain in the morning. A slight chance of snow in the late morning and afternoon.

Monday Night…North winds 20 to 25 knots decreasing to 15 to 20 knots after midnight. Seas 6 to 8 feet with occasional seas up to 10 feet subsiding to 4 to 6 feet with occasional seas up to 7 feet after midnight. Summary, Potential Impacts ● A period of moderate snow, sleet and freezing rain is expected Sunday night and Monday for all areas followed by bitterly cold conditions Monday night and Tuesday. Snow, ice and cold will likely pose a threat to life and property with hazardous road conditions, burst pipes and water manes, damage to infrastructure and at power outages. Risk of hypothermia for anyone outside who is not dressed properly. ● Today and Sunday, temperatures will be mainly near or just below freezing for areas north and west of Houston. Periods of freezing rain or drizzle expected, especially tonight and Sunday creating icy conditions there. Might include far W and NW Harris. ● Now is the time to insulate pipes, make plans to avoid travel and shelter indoors, especially for the Sunday night through Tuesday morning time frame. ● Another winter storm possible on Wednesday although could be more rain for southern zones. Still an ice threat, especially northern zones. Plenty of uncertainty still with that storm. Next Briefing

● NWS will continue daily briefings through at least Monday at 1 pm. weather.gov/houston @NWSHouston https://www.weather.gov/forecastpoints https://digital.weather.gov/

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