LIVE UPDATES: Houston weather, snow, icy road conditions, power outages, closures

HOUSTON - Snow has stopped falling in Houston, and the ice is disappearing.

There are still some icy patches out on the roads, but with temperatures well above freezing they should be gone soon.

Houston weather: Jan. 22 afternoon update

FOX 26 meteorologist John Dawson takes a look a temperatures across Houston and the chance for rain later this week.

Live updates

6:57 a.m.: Fort Bend ISD reports buses may be delayed due to challenging road conditions Thursday morning.

6:06 a.m.: La Porte Office of Emergency Management reports Black Ice formed on roads overnight. Northbound lanes of SH-146 are closed between Fairmont and SH-225. LPPD reports black ice on overpasses.

No reported issues on SH-225 or the Fred Hartman. Traffic will be diverted to frontage lanes.

Wednesday

2:24 p.m.: Many schools will be back in session on Thursday, but not all of them. Liberty ISD and Dayton ISD will be off on Thursday, citing weather concerns.

1:34 p.m.: We continue to watch trouble spots in the area. Here's a look at our cameras.

12:45 p.m.: You can watch all of Mayor Whitmire's news conference below.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire on winter weather response

Houston officials weigh in on the response to the winter weather in the city.

12:16 p.m.: Temperatures are now well above freezing across the area.

12:12 p.m.: Houston ISD says classes will resume on Thursday.

12:09 p.m.: Mayor Whitmire says the handling of the storm was "damn near perfect."

12:04 p.m.: "We probably got just the right amount of snow," said Whitmire. Warming centers will be open tonight and possibly tomorrow as well.

12 p.m.: "There is still ice on some of our bridges and roads so slow down and be cautious," said Houston Mayor John Whitmire.

11:53: a.m.: Houston Mayor John Whitmire is holding a news conference at noon.

You can watch the news conference in this live player.

11:37 a.m.: While some roads have cleared up, we are still seeing icy bridges.

SH 288 northbound towards 610 is a bit of a mess.

11: 30 a.m.: METRO buses are up and running again. Routes 2, 6, 8, 11, 14, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 44, 50, 52, 54, 56, 63, 65, 73, 80, 82, 85, 89, 102 and 137 have continued service.

11 a.m.: ERCOT says the current ERCOT Weather Watch will end at noon today. "The grid continues to have sufficient resources to meet demand and grid conditions are expected to be normal," ERCOT wrote.

ERCOT has no issues with grid amid winter weather

Many Texans were wondering if the power grid would hold up during the winter weather. FOX 26's Lina deFlorias talks about how ERCOT held up in the freezing temperatures.

9 a.m.: William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport reopened today after shutting down Tuesday due to the snow and ice. TSA lines opened at 9 a.m. at both Hobby and Bush Airports. Flights will begin arriving at 10 a.m. Departing flights will start taking off at 11 a.m. Click here to check your flight status.

Flights at Houston airports to resume Wednesday

Bush Airport and Hobby Airport in Houston are reopening on Wednesday after closing down due to snow and ice. FOX 26's Shelby Rose is at the airport with a look inside the terminals.

7:57 a.m.: Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted in unincorporated Harris County, call for service volume is low at the moment and almost no reported crashes. It should be all clear after 5 p.m. more or less.

7:56 a.m.: Lt. Terry Garza says I-10 eastbound before FM 2100 has black ice in both directions. Also, SH-99 eastbound over SH 249 has ice built up on the roadway. Numerous ice related accidents were reported.

7:09 a.m.: Northwest Volunteer Fire Department says they are working multiple accidents on State Highway 249 at Beltway 8 due to ice.

7:07 a.m.: Constable Mark Herman reports black ice under the Beltway overpass of the North Freeway northbound main lanes and on FM 1960 Road Overpass over the Hardy Toll Road both directions.

6:39 a.m.: The Houston Fire Department tweets they responded to an increased number of car accidents over the last 12 hours.

1:25 a.m.: TxDOT reports crews are working around the clock to clear roads of ice, slush and snow and a team of 25 from TxDOT Waco arrived to the area just after 1 a.m. to begin immediate operations of clearing roads.

12:49 a.m.: Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman says Black Ice is on the roadway at FM 1960/Hardy Toll Road in both directions. Drive safely if you have to be on the roadways.

Tuesday

10:44 p.m.: FM 1960 Westbound and eastbound lanes at Hardy Road are closed due to icy and dangerous road conditions, according to Harris County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Terry Garza.

9:58 p.m.: Rosenberg Police is reporting that FM 723 over the Brazos River Bridge is now CLOSED due to ice. We are monitoring I-69 for possible closure as well.

9:40 p.m.: From Houston Transtar:

Melted snow is freezing on areas roads creating large patches of BLACK ICE! Multiple major accidents have been tracked across Harris County. These conditions are expected to worsen overnight. Black ice is one of the most dangerous driving hazards. It is nearly impossible to see and often remains invisible until it is TOO LATE. All motorists, including first responders, face significant challenges due to HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITIONS. Longer response times may result. Don’t risk your safety and don’t put first responders at risk. Stay home and off the roads. • Avoid ALL travel tonight through tomorrow morning.
• ONLY call 9-1-1 in the event of life-threatening emergencies.
Monitor road conditions daily by visiting https://www.houstontranstar.org/ and be ready to adjust travel times. Statewide road conditions are available at https://drivetexas.org/.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an Extreme Cold Warning, which began at 6 PM today and will continue until 9 AM tomorrow. Dangerously cold wind chill values as low as 10 degrees are expected. Warming Centers: Various partners in Harris County have warming centers available for those who need a place to stay overnight due to adverse weather conditions. Visit www.ReadyHarris.org to find the location nearest you and the latest hours of operations.

9:15 p.m.: I-10 East Freeway mainlanes westbound from Sheldon Road to Beltway 8, closed due to ice. Barricades were set up, officials said. Black ice also reported on the Sam Houston Parkway Westbound at Almeda Road.

9:00 p.m.: From Pct 5 Constable Terry Allbritton’s Office, Tonight, our concern is for ice on the roadways as the temperature drop again well below freezing. As we did last night, we are encouraging people to stay off the roadways. Our patrol units have been active answering calls and assisting citizens to get through this winter event.

Here are some stats:1 - Major Crash
11 - Minor Crashes
3 - Wrong Way Drivers
19 - Traffic Hazards Cleared
16 - Stranded Motor Vehicles Assisted
3 - Patrons rescued from frozen overpasses

8:20 p.m.: Additional roadways are being reported with having black ice. Drivers are urged to use caution and remain at home due to dangerous road conditions.

7:20 p.m.: The Harris County Sheriff's Office is reporting black ice on the roadways. FM 1960 entrance ramp to SH 249 and FM 1960 between Cypresswood and Lee Road. Lee Road is iced over. Officials said, "It is too dangerous now and most businesses are closed. Stay safe, stay home!

6:10 p.m.: Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez reported on X about an accident that ended with one man getting injured on Tuesday. According to Gonzalez, two males were pushing a stranded vehicle on the overpass of FM 1960 and Atascocita on the downside of the overpass. A vehicle approaching from behind was not able to stop on time and struck one of the men, breaking his left leg. He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A second male was not injured.

6:02 p.m.: Captain James Lovett with the Harris County Sheriff's Office said ice reported at I-10 East freeway, westbound lanes and on the Beltway 8 feeder roads under I10 East. Please avoid the area. Reduce speeds if it is necessary to travel this area.

5:28 p.m.: We've had tons of great photos of the snow sent in to the FOX 26 newsroom. Here are just a few.

Houston snow photos

FOX 26 viewers send in their photos and videos in the snow on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.

5:22 p.m.: Harris County officials say they have worked 168 crashes since 10p.m. Friday night.

5:11 p.m.: Houston Mayor John Whitmire warns that the next 24 hours could be the most dangerous of this winter storm.

4:55 p.m.: Houston Mayor John Whitmire is expected to hold an update at 5 p.m.

You will be able to watch it in the live player below.

4:35 p.m.: "We're not done," Harris County Emergency Management Coordinator Mark Sloan says. Freezing is expected overnight.

4:27 p.m.: First responders are expecting to see an uptick in pipes bursting overnight and fires as we enter a deep freeze.

4:12 p.m.: Harris County judge Lina Hidalgo gives an update.

Harris County winter storm update | 4 p.m.

Harris County officials give an update on the winter storm that dumped snow and ice on much of the region. Officials are urging residents to stay vigilant with roads expected to refreeze overnight.

4:07 p.m.: Throughout the morning we looked at your photos and videos! Look back at some of the fun from our Snow Day Showcase!

Houston Snow Day Showcase Part 1

Covering the winter storm in the Houston area; checking out the viewer-submitted photos and videos.

4 p.m.: William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport will be back open on Wednesday after shutting down Tuesday due to the snow and ice, sources tell FOX 26.

3 p.m.: Some stores are closing early due to the weather.

Houston area Central Market, Joe V’s Smart Shop, and Mi Tienda stores are open and will close at 8 p.m. on January 21.

All area Kroger stores will close at 8 p.m. Tuesday, and will reopen at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 22. Pharmacy hours may vary by location.

1 p.m.: Galveston city officials say the CenterPoint transmission lines to the island have even repaired which has previously caused capacity concerns.

Usage at the warming center at McGuire Dent will be monitored through the day and the city will make a determination about continuing operations later this afternoon. Salvation Army and Central Methodist will remain open for the unsheltered who need warming centers through tomorrow.

12 p.m.: CenterPoint reports 99.9% customers have power as the winter storm impacts the Greater Houston area.

Since the weather impact, 18,700 customers have had their power restored. The company says 2,800 customers are currently out of power.

11:50 a.m.: A man was found dead outside of a restaurant in Harris County. The sheriff says his death was likely weather-related. Click here to read more.

11 a.m.: CenterPoint Energy notified the city of Galveston that they are having load capacity issues.

The power company is asking for all of Galveston to conserve energy to help make sure electricity is able to reach the west end.

CenterPoint says the highest concern is for areas west of 61st Street.

Click here to read more.

8:50 a.m.: Residents are taking advantage of the rare snow day and having some fun. We found a man skiing at Eleanor Tinsley Park. If you're looking for some places to sled, check out this link.

Houston snow: Man skis at Eleanor Tinsley Park during winter storm

Jonathan took advantage of the rare opportunity to ski in Houston at Elanor Tinsley Park amid the winter storm.

7:23 a.m.: The Galveston County Office of Emergency Management says bridges and overpasses are iced over and crews are continuously treating them where necessary. They encourage everyone to avoid driving.

5 a.m.: ERCOT issued a Transmission Emergency in South and Southeast Texas for loss of transmission from freezing precipitation. Transmission is how power gets from generators to the grid and from the grid to homes. Loss of transmission means it can't move because of freezing precipitation.

It's unclear how much of a problem this will be or how long it will last, but the ERCOT dashboard currently shows supply and demand is being met. We are following developments.

4:45 a.m.: A Blizzard Warning has been issued for Jefferson and Orange counties in Texas as well as six Louisiana parishes until noon. The warning means that "frequent wind gusts to 35 mph and snow reducing visibility to ¼ mile or less is expected," according to the NWS Lake Charles office.

4:30 a.m.: Houston Transtar is now reporting more than 50 icy road locations. Click here to see the updated list.

Houston weather: Dangerous icy road conditions amid winter storm

More than 50 icy road locations have been reported across the Houston area as snow falls in Southeast Texas.

3 a.m.: The Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management is asking the public to avoid travel amid multiple road closures.

1 a.m.: Numerous roadways are being reported having ice or snow on the roadway. Click here for the latest list.

12:08 a.m.: We're getting our first reports of bridges that are icing over. According to Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman, the bridge at Gosling Road at the county line has ice on the roadway and is impassable at this time.

MONDAY

10:20 p.m.: More reports of snowfall are beginning to come in across the northern parts of the Houston area.

9:08 p.m.: FOX 26 is getting reports of sleet falling in the Woodlands as well as snow changing over to all snow in Prairie View, Texas.

Sleet in The Woodlands

7:48 p.m.: FOX 26 Meteorologist John Dawson reported in his latest weather update via the FOX 26 Live Stream that he is seeing reports on social media of various types of frozen precipitation falling across the area.