Jump to content

Winter Weather 2025 - Arctic Blasts or Sweaty Ass?


NorthLoop

Recommended Posts

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
130 PM CST Sat Jan 18 2025

TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-300-313-335>338-
436>439-190330-
/O.NEW.KHGX.WS.A.0001.250121T0000Z-250122T0000Z/
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-
Including the cities of Huntsville, Somerville, Freeport,
Trinity, Hempstead, Shepherd, Winnie, Anahuac, Eagle Lake, Texas
City, Angleton, Friendswood, Sealy, Mission Bend, Pearland, Pecan
Grove, Pasadena, League City, Surfside Beach, Galveston, First
Colony, Brenham, Palacios, Mont Belvieu, Dickinson, Sugar Land,
Baytown, Navasota, Madisonville, Bryan, Wharton, Waller, Ganado,
Old River-Winfree, Dayton, Prairie View, Columbus, Brookshire,
Missouri City, Caldwell, Clute, Weimar, La Marque, Cleveland, El
Campo, Groveton, Edna, Bellville, Bay City, Devers, Conroe,
Rosenberg, Coldspring, The Woodlands, Liberty, College Station,
Houston, Stowell, Lake Jackson, Corrigan, Crockett, Alvin, and
Livingston
130 PM CST Sat Jan 18 2025

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY
AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation possible. Total snow and sleet
accumulations up to 3 inches with the potential for locally higher
amounts. Ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch possible.

* WHERE...Portions of south central and southeast Texas.

* WHEN...From Monday evening through Tuesday afternoon.

* 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.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.

Persons should 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.


&&

$$

Cady

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Models are underestimating the warm nose on the NE side of the coastal low. Similar system last week was supposed to bury DFW in 6-12” of snow and they got mostly rain and sloppy wet snow.

My guess is anywhere along and south of 10 gets mostly rain/fzg rain (fuck that), especially as you move east from central TX to Houston. 
 

SA prob will have a freezing rain event.

Austin mostly snow/sleet.

Who knows- globals do not model southern arctic air well. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Forecasts looks to have shifted the colder temps a little sooner in Houston and bumped the low temps up a few degrees.

I have a healthy fear of frozen water pipes. What are the downsides of just turning off the water to my house, at the meter, for 36-48 hours during the extreme lows? I can have water stored for drinking, washing and the toilet. I assume some remaining water in the pipes could still freeze but could that still burst the pipe?

and in some unexpected case of absolutely needing a hot shower, I could turn the water back on. I live alone so there wouldn’t be anyone in my ear complaining about the lack of running water.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

34 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Forecasts looks to have shifted the colder temps a little sooner in Houston and bumped the low temps up a few degrees.

I have a healthy fear of frozen water pipes. What are the downsides of just turning off the water to my house, at the meter, for 36-48 hours during the extreme lows? I can have water stored for drinking, washing and the toilet. I assume some remaining water in the pipes could still freeze but could that still burst the pipe?

and in some unexpected case of absolutely needing a hot shower, I could turn the water back on. I live alone so there wouldn’t be anyone in my ear complaining about the lack of running water.

Minimal risk to shutting off the water.  If you have concerns about pipes busting, then shut it off ahead of time, but make sure to open hose bibs to get any residual water out.  Only real concern arises when you turn the water back on.  If your pipes / fixtures are older, the sudden increase in pressure can cause issues.  Just turn it back on very slowly.

  • Hook 'Em 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Forecasts looks to have shifted the colder temps a little sooner in Houston and bumped the low temps up a few degrees.

I have a healthy fear of frozen water pipes. What are the downsides of just turning off the water to my house, at the meter, for 36-48 hours during the extreme lows? I can have water stored for drinking, washing and the toilet. I assume some remaining water in the pipes could still freeze but could that still burst the pipe?

and in some unexpected case of absolutely needing a hot shower, I could turn the water back on. I live alone so there wouldn’t be anyone in my ear complaining about the lack of running water.

You turn off the water then open the sinks to drain.

Edited by elfenix
  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Homercles said:

Any forecast updates that aren’t just an image of a map with lines and circles?

Seems outlook trended away a bit from impactful precipitation, but what do I know.  

Yeah, it is going to be cold. And it will be hot in August.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Forecasts looks to have shifted the colder temps a little sooner in Houston and bumped the low temps up a few degrees.

I have a healthy fear of frozen water pipes. What are the downsides of just turning off the water to my house, at the meter, for 36-48 hours during the extreme lows? I can have water stored for drinking, washing and the toilet. I assume some remaining water in the pipes could still freeze but could that still burst the pipe?

and in some unexpected case of absolutely needing a hot shower, I could turn the water back on. I live alone so there wouldn’t be anyone in my ear complaining about the lack of running water.

You're in Houston, right? You guys got up into the mid-60s yesterday, and the ground isn't going to flash freeze and destroy any underground pipes when you guys hit a low of 18 Tuesday night (early Wednesday morning), per the current NWS forecast. It's highly unlikely your pipes will burst, but I would just drip the faucets and keep the cabinet doors under the sinks open to allow the ambient room temperature to help keep the pipes warm. If you're super concerned, place space heaters near any sinks facing an exterior wall.

This too shall pass.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Forecasts looks to have shifted the colder temps a little sooner in Houston and bumped the low temps up a few degrees.

I have a healthy fear of frozen water pipes. What are the downsides of just turning off the water to my house, at the meter, for 36-48 hours during the extreme lows? I can have water stored for drinking, washing and the toilet. I assume some remaining water in the pipes could still freeze but could that still burst the pipe?

and in some unexpected case of absolutely needing a hot shower, I could turn the water back on. I live alone so there wouldn’t be anyone in my ear complaining about the lack of running water.

I'll be cutting off the water at the meter. It's not that bad to make do without running water for a little bit.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

I almost pulled the trigger on Thursday to sign up before cut-off.  Last year’s weather was perfect.  I bet they are miserable today with the wind.  

me too! Then I remembered I only run if I am being chased. 

  • Like 1
  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, Wild Bill said:

I'll be cutting off the water at the meter. It's not that bad to make do without running water for a little bit.

Growing up, any time it got into the 20s overnight dad would go turn off the water at the meter after showers/dishes/etc and we'd let the water drain out. Don't piss on your hands and let the yellow mellow overnight. There's even 1 flush available if someone has to drop a turd. You'll be fine and your pipes won't burst so long as you don't have a dip in the system somewhere uninsulated.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, bolverk said:

but I would just drip the faucets and keep the cabinet doors under the sinks open to allow the ambient room temperature to help keep the pipes warm.

I always open my dishwasher as well.  The hydro-dishwasher... I'm not married so don't have one of them "other dishwashers".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

58 minutes ago, elfenix said:

Growing up, any time it got into the 20s overnight dad would go turn off the water at the meter after showers/dishes/etc and we'd let the water drain out. Don't piss on your hands and let the yellow mellow overnight. There's even 1 flush available if someone has to drop a turd. You'll be fine and your pipes won't burst so long as you don't have a dip in the system somewhere uninsulated.

Before cutting the water off, fill up your bathtub - later on dip it out with a pitcher to refill toilet tanks as needed.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, Armybrat said:

Before cutting the water off, fill up your bathtub - later on dip it out with a pitcher to refill toilet tanks as needed.

don't even need to refill tanks, just pour directly into the bowl - it will flush. no chance of someone dropping the tank lid.

i'd only do that if you thought you were going to have extended period without water though. overnight you'd then be draining the tub the next day if it needs to be used.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...