A number of varieties of utmost climate are forecast for Texas this week as state officers monitor rising wildfire dangers in West Texas and potential flash flooding in East Texas earlier than frigid chilly settles in throughout the state mid-week.
Wildfire situations are forecast Monday from El Paso to Pecos. On Tuesday, a storm is forecast to dump heavy rainfall in east and southeast Texas. By Wednesday morning, many of the state is forecast to expertise chilly temperatures starting from historic lows to above freezing.
“At the moment is a stereotypical instance of how the climate can change dramatically,” Gov. Greg Abbott mentioned at a Monday press convention. “Many areas of the state look like the climate is simply nice. If persons are not taking note of it, they’re gonna be shocked by what’s gonna occur over the subsequent few hours and the subsequent few days.”
Abbott and state emergency personnel urged individuals to organize for the chilly temperatures and use precaution whereas driving. However Abbott mentioned the state’s energy grid ought to have enough provide to deal with the anticipated rise in demand when the chilly climate settles in.
“The actual fact of the matter is that the ability grid has by no means been stronger than it’s now,” Abbott mentioned. “There’s each purpose to be 100% assured that the ability grid is gonna have the ability to face up to this problem.”
The chilly temperatures will fluctuate throughout the state. In El Paso, the Nationwide Climate Service forecast predicts that mid-week lows will hover round 32 levels whereas highs will hit the mid-60s. In Amarillo, meteorologists predict low temperatures within the single digits on Tuesday and Wednesday with highs within the 20s and 30s.
In the meantime, low temperatures in Houston will drop into the 30s and 40s through the week, whereas Austin residents will expertise in a single day temperatures within the 20s and 30s, in response to the Nationwide Climate Service.
This text initially appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/17/texas-extreme-cold-weather-power-grid-wildfire-flood-risk/.
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and interesting Texans on state politics and coverage. Be taught extra at texastribune.org.
Subjects
Catastrophe
Natural Disasters
Texas
Wildfire
Flood
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