texas travel weather advisory

Traveling around Texas? Here’s what the weather is like where you’re heading

And advice from plumbers on how to prepare your house or apartment for low temperatures while you’re away.

If you’re one of the nearly 9 million Texans expected to travel this holiday season, chances are good you’re heading to visit family or friends in another part of the state. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled local weather forecasts, travel tips and advice from some plumbers in Houston on how to protect your pipes while you’re away.

The takeaway? It’ll be cold pretty much everywhere you go, but the chances of precipitation – snow and ice – are very low to nonexistent, and experts suspect the power grid will hold up as a result.

What’s the weather like where you’re heading?

If Central or South Texas is your destination, pack lots of warm clothes. Subfreezing temperatures are expected to hit Thursday night and last through the weekend, and it’ll be windy . But unlike the deadly winter storm of 2021, this arctic front won’t bring any moisture with it, so road conditions should be decent (although we can’t promise I-35 won’t be congested).

Heading north? The D-FW area will also see subfreezing temperatures and no precipitation through the weekend. It won’t get warmer than the 40s through Sunday.

The arctic front will hit Southeast Texas by Thursday afternoon, and temperatures will hover between the 20s and 40s through the weekend.

Out west, temperatures will drop hard and fast Thursday, and the wind chill will push temps into the negative Friday in Midland.

How should you prep your house (and plants) before you leave?

Plumbers advise turning off the water main to your home and opening the faucets inside to empty pipes . It’s not foolproof and may be a bit extreme, but science is still on your side.

"When you drain your system, you never get all of the water out, so there is a chance something crazy could happen,” John Eccles with Nick's Plumbing in Houston told Houston Public Media. “But water expands when it freezes, so that's what happens when we don't drain it."

If your plumbing is on an exterior wall, “open up the cabinets and it takes the ambient air of the home and helps it to stay under the cabinet to keep the pipes warm," David Robbins, a plumber in Houston, told HPM. "That's a really good idea. I highly recommend doing it."

While your interior pipes should weather the storm, Robbins said exterior pipes and openings need to be covered.

"Exposed piping like hose bibs, water connections, valves, irrigation systems, they need to be protected,” he said.

Here are some tips on protecting your pipes (and plants!), courtesy of KUT in Austin.

Will the heat and power stay on this time?

Unlike during the 2021 winter storm, the power grid is expected to continue functioning because “temperatures will be slightly warmer [than they were that year], no significant precipitation is forecast, and the extreme cold (for Texas) is not expected to last for days on end,” according to KUT.

Feeling adventurous?

Here are six ways to get around Texas that don’t include flying but do include a train .

Major winter storm to bring 'ferocious blizzard conditions' and travel hazards across the country

Drivers in parts of the U.S. were urged not to travel unless absolutely necessary on Monday as a vast storm system is expected to bring “ferocious blizzard conditions,” potential tornadoes and flooding rain to millions, according to the National Weather Service.

Weather alerts stretch coast to coast for more than 200 million people, with 108 million people under wind alerts, 43 million under winter alerts and 59 million under flood alerts.

The weather service said in an advisory early Monday that up to 2 inches of snow per hour could land in the central and southern Plains Monday night into Tuesday. Snowfall rates exceeding 2 inches per hour and widespread wind gusts up to 70 mph are expected as this system advances into the Midwest overnight into Tuesday. Around 42 million people are under winter weather alerts, with blizzard warnings extending from northeastern New Mexico into south central Nebraska.

Cities feeling the greatest impact include Omaha, Nebraska, and Green Bay, Wisconsin, which may receive 6 to 10 inches of snow.

A foot of snow had already landed in Massachusetts by Sunday afternoon, leaving 13,000 homes in the state without power. That number had dropped to 5,600 by Monday morning.

Snow and hazardous conditions are also expected in the interior Northeast throughout Tuesday, while a blizzard is expected in the Plains of northeast New Mexico, eastern Colorado, the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles, western Kansas and southwest Nebraska.

"Wind gusts as high as 60-70 mph will create ferocious blizzard conditions with whiteouts. Travel will become extremely dangerous to impossible. If you must travel, pack a winter survival kit as wind chills will plummet below zero," the weather service said.

Video showed snow weighing down and breaking tree branches in Salem, New Hampshire.

Elsewhere, the weather service warned of a high risk of severe thunderstorms across the central Gulf Coast on Monday night into Tuesday, with very strong winds, possible nocturnal tornadoes and the risk of significant flash flooding into Wednesday also potentially affecting much of the East Coast. Cities to watch include Houston, New Orleans, Mobile and Panama City.

Ground stops were issued at Dallas Love Field Airport, William P. Hobby Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport due to thunderstorms, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Sunday that the Texas Division of Emergency Management had raised its level of preparedness.

“The State of Texas stands ready to deploy all available resources to take care of Texans and our communities as multiple severe weather threats begin to impact the state tomorrow,” he said in a statement.

The College Football Playoff is still scheduled to take place Monday despite weather reports, according to the Houston Office of Emergency Management .

Louisiana State University announced that its campus will close Monday and all classes and activities will be canceled.

New York has already been hit with what Gov. Kathy Hochul called a "classic nor’easter" over the weekend, a storm that dumped a foot of snow and caused a severe flooding risk.

“We have seen snow accumulations across the State and with more on the way we are keeping a close eye on potential impacts throughout the day — I urge New Yorkers to stay vigilant and practice caution, especially if you need to travel," she said in a statement Sunday .

On the West Coast, two powerful winter storm systems are due to pass over the Pacific Northwest on Monday night, bringing several feet of snow and blizzard conditions. More than a foot of snow is likely for higher parts of the Northern Rockies on Tuesday and Wednesday, the weather service said.

A girl was pinned by a tree that toppled over at a popular flea market in Fairfax, California, due to strong winds Sunday, NBC Los Angeles reported . She was later treated at a hospital, according to the news station. Her condition was not immediately available Monday morning.

In Southern California, temperatures are expected to be near or below freezing in some areas, including around Lancaster and Pyramid Lake, according to the National Weather Service field office in Los Angeles.

Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.

Erin McGarry is the executive editor of NBC News' climate unit. 

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Watch CBS News

Gov. Abbott issues emergency resources amid severe weather threat

Updated on: April 20, 2024 / 2:06 PM CDT / CBS Texas

NORTH TEXAS — Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to distribute emergency resources across the state ahead of severe weather.

"Texans are urged to monitor weather forecasts, make an emergency plan, and heed the guidance of state and local officials to protect yourselves and your loved ones," he said. "I thank our brave emergency response personnel who are working tirelessly to help keep Texas communities safe."   

RELATED STORY: First Alert Weather: Thunderstorms, potential flooding amid cooler temps across North Texas

Our First Alert Weather Team issued severe weather warnings early Saturday morning amid thunderstorms with the possibility of small hail and localized flooding. The National Weather Service says the severe thunderstorms are threatening Central, East and South Texas, as well.

After Gov. Abbott's directive Saturday afternoon, TDEM deployed swiftwater boat squads, as well as game wardens and boat squads.

Other state resources have been on standby since earlier this week, per another directive by Gov. Abbott, including urban search & rescue teams; personnel and equipment to assist with traffic control and road closures; Texas Highway Patrol Troopers and Tactical Marine Unit and helicopters with hoist capabilities; and air/water/wastewater monitoring.

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WEATHER ALERT

4 warnings and 3 advisories in effect for 16 regions in the area

Track flood waters in real-time using houston’s flood warning system.

Holly Galvan Posey , Digital Content Producer

Stay informed on the movement of flood waters during the extended flood watch for SE Texas. KPRC 2 Meteorologist Caroline Brown predicts the potential for 1-3 inches of additional rainfall, with some areas possibly receiving up to 8 inches today.

Keep up to date with the Harris County Flood Control District’s Flood Warning System , which continuously monitors rainfall levels and water levels in bayous and major streams. Be alerted to hazardous weather conditions as they develop.

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Holly galvan posey.

Holly joined the KPRC 2 digital team in March 2024, leveraging her eight years of expertise in blogging and digital content to share her passion for Houston. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the city's vibrant scenes, all while balancing her roles as a wife and mother to two toddlers.

Parts of East Texas are under water and roads are impassable as rain dumps across the region

Subscribe to The Y’all — a weekly dispatch about the people, places and policies defining Texas, produced by Texas Tribune journalists living in communities across the state.

LUFKIN – The East Texas town of Livingston is under water.

Drone footage of high waters along U.S. Highway 59 Thursday showed moving trucks and cars swept away. Businesses and homes have brown water at their windows. Most county roads compromised, officials said.

Livingston is the county seat for Polk County, which is one of several counties in the region that have seen between 15-20 inches of rain in the last five days, National Weather Service Meteorologist Hayley Adams said.

There are flood warnings in place for Trinity, Walker and San Jacinto counties along with all counties south toward the Houston metro area. Parts of Harris County, including the Woodlands and the Kingsville area, were also under flood warnings.

Flash flood warnings were also issued for Hardin, Jasper, Orange and Tyler County by the National Weather Service Lake Charles district, according to Hardin County Emergency Management.

Several of these counties released evacuation orders in the last 24 to 48 hours, including Trinity County, which has ordered the evacuation of specific roads and neighborhoods. Many local school districts have canceled classes. Rainfall is expected through Saturday.

“We've had several inches of rain fall within the last 12 hours on top of significant recent rainfalls already this week and it's led to several flash flood warnings in and around the area,” Adams said. “There were numerous reports of flooded roads. We've had high water rescues and some [additional] light to moderate rain moving over that area right now. We are expecting another round of rain for tonight with an additional two to four inches possible.”

The Texas Department of Transportation Lufkin District has closed portions of U.S. Highway 59 throughout East Texas as it has become impassable due to flooding. Officials were not aware of any significant injuries or deaths.

Polk County Emergency Management, on social media , asked residents who had not yet evacuated to stay home as “all roads are compromised.” Truckers are lined up in whatever high, flat places they can find. County and city roads have washed away, leaving massive holes under water, said Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy.

The Lake Livingston Dam has been releasing over 111,000 cubic feet of water per second since Thursday morning, breaking the record established for water released during Hurricane Harvey, Murphy said.

Communities south of the dam were experiencing even higher levels of flooding. A conglomeration of county employees, game wardens, volunteer and professional emergency responders and state emergency officials have spent the last 12 hours rescuing people who did not evacuate when told to do so earlier this week, Murphy said. The county judge suggested crews could rescue more than a thousand people in the area before the storms are over.

The Dunbar Gym remains open as a shelter, but the county’s other flood shelter option is unreachable due to high water that has spread across the rest of Polk County. Churches and local organizations who have buildings above the flood waters have opened their doors, Murphy said. Camp CHO YEH , a Christian-based summer camp, has also opened its facilities and is being heavily utilized by the county.

Gov. Greg Abbott ordered an escalated response to increase the readiness of the Texas Division of Emergency Management on Wednesday. He has already ordered disaster declarations for several counties over the last few days in response to heavy rainfall since April 8.

“Texas stands ready to quickly deploy all available resources necessary to help communities across Texas as severe weather and flooding impacts our state,” Abbott said in a statement released May 1.

“I directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to increase the readiness level of the State Operation Center to ensure a swift response as we continue to mobilize state emergency response resources Texans need to stay safe.”

The new rainfall is landing on already heavily saturated soil, meaning it won’t be absorbed and instead will flood.

Debbie and Robert Blakely live northeast of Lake Livingston, in between the lake and downtown Livingston. Robert Blakely is a heavy equipment operator for the Polk County road crew and was called in to clear roadways, establish barriers and generally support the county.

Debbie Blakely on Thursday told the Texas Tribune the back part of the acre of land, behind their double-wide trailer, had completely flooded. And a creek that usually runs about100 feet away from their trailer, is instead along their fence line.

The couple moved to Polk County 25 years ago from North East Texas and are used to their fair share of storms. They have lived through hurricanes, tropical storms and more that have dumped feet of rain on the Deep East Texas community.

But the unrelenting storms over the last few days have been different, Debbie Blakely said.

“This is the craziest that I’ve seen,” she said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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A vigorous low pressure system moving through Nebraska brought the necessary ingredients together for a severe weather outbreak across the region. Strong winds and cold temperatures in the mid levels of the atmosphere (15,000-20,000 ft above the ground) overspread a warm, moist air mass streaming north from the Gulf of Mexico to create a favorable environment for severe thunderstorm development. The storms (supercells) that produced the tornadoes across eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa developed along a front that moved into eastern Nebraska from the west during the afternoon hours.

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