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A sunny Tuesday melted away much of the snow and ice accumulated overnight throughout the San Antonio region, but forecasters warned at least one more night of icy weather remained this week.
The National Weather Service's Austin/San Antonio office extended its Cold Weather Advisory for the I-35 corridor and the Coastal Plains to noon Wednesday. Wind chills as low as 7 degrees were possible in south central Texas, its advisory explained.
Motorists were warned to delay travel until Wednesday. If that was not possible, they should watch for black ice on roads and bridges during the evening and overnight hours. Forecasters also recommended that drivers keep an extra flashlight, food and water in their vehicles in case of an emergency (more tips were available below).
Most San Antonio area schools and universities canceled classes on Tuesday. By Tuesday evening, most schools announced a return to regular schedules on Wednesday, except for the San Antonio Independent School District.
"For the safety of students, especially those walking or waiting at bus stops early in the morning, SAISD will keep its schools closed on Wednesday, Jan. 22," read a statement from the district.
It went on to say that all Central Office, district and essential staff will report to work on Wednesday at their regularly scheduled times.
Parents, students and employees should monitor their own institutions' social media accounts for specific updates.
Bexar County and the City of San Antonio announced that most services would resume on Wednesday.
The enduring sunshine this week promised a respite from the wintry weather. Forecasters expected that temperatures will steadily rise on Wednesday, which will see a high near 50. Overnight lows were expected to remain below freezing through the rest of the week. But highs on Thursday and Friday were expected to reach the mid 50s under partly sunny skies. The weekend may see highs in the mid 60s and low chances of rain.
Temperatures in the 60s may seem relatively balmy to South Texans who awoke to snowy landscapes on Tuesday morning. Boerne saw half-an inch of frozen precipitation overnight. Wimberley reported an inch of snow. Overnight sleet accumulations across the San Antonio area were less than an inch, with some areas north and east seeing slightly higher totals.
City and county responses
The City of San Antonio kept open what it called "overnight resilience hubs" at area senior and community centers to give residents a safe, warm space to stay. They also offered free wifi and free device charging. Kennels were available for pets in separate areas, and VIA offered free rides to and from these locations. More information was available at SA.gov/ColdWeather.
The city's hubs are at these locations:
- Copernicus Community Center - 5003 Lord Rd, 78220
- Gilbert Garza Community Center - 1450 Mira Vista, 78228
- Miller’s Pond Community Center - 6175 Old Pearsall, 78242
- Normoyle Senior Center - 700 Culberson, 78225
- Northeast Senior Center - 4135 Thousand Oaks, 78233
- Southside Lions Senior Center - 3303 Pecan Valley, 78210
The city also offered temporary shelter to unsheltered residents at these locations:
- City of San Antonio Bode Community Center - 901 Rigsby Ave
- City of San Antonio Tobin Community Center - 1900 W Martin St
- Communities under the Bridge (CUB) - 724 Chestnut St.
- Corazon SA - 504 Ave E
- Haven for Hope - 1 Haven for Hope Way
- Sold Out Believers Church - 1139 Gembler (everyone) & 1802 Guadalupe (female only)
Bexar County also opened five warming centers this week. Find their locations at bexar.org/winter. Residents were asked to bring clothes, medicines, and other personal supplies.
The San Antonio Water System reported that it was prepared for the freezing weather conditions and did not expect service issues. Office personnel are working regular hours. Customers can still call 704-SAWS to report main breaks or for account questions.
The utility has seen a spike in calls from customers with frozen pipes. Resources on managing frozen pipes can be found at SAWS.org.
SAWS has also heard from customers about sprinklers spraying onto roads and freezing into ice. For safety, homeowners should turn off irrigation systems at the shut-off valve.
The San Antonio International Airport also advised travelers to check their flight status if they planned to travel. The winter storm wreaked havoc on airline schedules. Some airports in other parts of the country are experiencing weather far worse than San Antonio.
The severe cold descended on the Alamo City on Monday, hours before thousands of marchers celebrated the legacy and lessons of Martin Luther King Jr., enduring the chilliness as they marched nearly three miles from Martin Luther King Jr. Academy to Pittman-Sullivan Park. The day's march was the biggest such procession in the U.S. The event held extra poignancy as Donald Trump returned to the U.S. presidency.
Power grid
KUT in Austin explained that the Texas statewide power grid is the massive network of power plants and transmission lines that is managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. This is the system that ran out of electricity during the 2021 freeze, causing one of the worst power failures in US history.
This week, ERCOT issued a “weather watch” until Thursday. The watch is basically the grid operator's way of recognizing that the cold will drive up electricity demand and could result in lower-than-usual energy reserves. But, crucially, the grid operator said “grid conditions are expected to be normal during an ERCOT Weather Watch.”
That means they are not anticipating reserves to drop to a level where they would have to call for conservation, declare an energy emergency or enact rolling blackouts.
Still, KUT added, power emergencies usually happen by surprise when power plants break down right as demand for energy spikes.
The Texas grid may be monitored in real time, however. Texans may view energy supply versus demand on the ERCOT website or by downloading the ERCOT app.
The dashboard also has a map that shows the current price for energy in different parts of the state. Experts said the map reveals more than just the cost of energy. “The price maps will be useful in seeing where new transmission would be helpful during peak winter events and will also be an indicator of power plants having tripped off line, if they do,” explained Joshua Rhodes, a research scientist at UT Austin.
The website Grid Status is another good place to monitor ERCOT and other regional grids, with plenty of interesting information on the power mix, and historical data on the power supply.
Driver safety
Every time winter weather poses a dangerous threat, AAA Texas urges drivers to check and maintain their tires, which are critical to maintain traction on potentially wet and slippery roads. That includes tire pressure, which is depleted by cold temperatures.
Andrew West with Tech One Automotive in Austin recently explained that temperature swings during the day can cause car batteries to wear out and could leave a driver stranded. "The easiest way to prevent that would be if you have the ability to park inside of a garage where it's a little bit warmer," he explained.
But if that's not possible, West recommends drivers give themselves some extra time in the morning, just in case they need a jumpstart.
AAA Texas also advised drivers to never warm a vehicle in an enclosed area like a garage.
Drivers should reduce speed and leave plenty of room to stop. They should allow at least three times more space than usual between their car and the car in front.
In case of emergency, Texans can call the state’s roadside assistance number, located on the back of their driver's license.
Disability safety
The cold weather can be especially brutal for people with disabilities.
Experts advise them to create winter weather checklist to ensure they have enough warm clothes. They should wear multiple layers of clothes and keep blankets handy to wrap around the body. A jacket, hat, scarf, boots, and gloves or mittens will help people stay warm. People with low to no vision are encouraged to use gloves with thin materials to better navigate surfaces.
Power wheelchair users need to have an alternative power source and/or have a light-weight wheelchair in the event the power goes out. They should reach out to their utility company to inquire about becoming listed as a life-sustaining equipment customer. Power wheelchair users should make sure their chairs are charged and ready to use in rough terrain. Kitty litter can be used for traction.
People with disabilities should ensure that they have enough shelf-stable, non-refrigerated food items to last at least three days. Each person in the household should have at least one gallon of drinking water available for each day.
The checklist should also include a stockpile of seven days' worth of both prescription and over-the counter medication, along with a fully supplied first aid kit, and backup batteries for hearing aids, power wheelchairs, radios, and flashlights.
People who rely on service animals can protect their animals’ paws by avoiding salted surfaces and protecting paws with protective boots. If the animals are on medication, owners should ensure they have any necessary medications for at least a week. They should also ensure they have enough pet food for a week. Owners should also keep a shovel and salt or sand available to clear walkways for themselves and their pets.
Heater safety
Some residents will use space heaters to stay warm. The Electrical Safety Foundation (ESF) recently reported that more than 65,000 house fires in the United States are due to heating equipment.
The ESF recommends residents inspect their heaters for any broken parts or loose plugs. Heaters must be placed at least three feet away from clothing, rugs, and anything that can burn.
Owners should plug heaters into a wall outlet, not an extension cord. Before leaving a room or going to sleep, turn off the heater.
The ESF also recommends checking smoke detectors.
Pet safety
San Antonio's Animal Care Services (ACS) wants to ensure that as people stay warm, they keep their pets warm too.
That starts with a proper shelter, which ACS defines to be three walls, a raised floor and a roof. Pets must always have access to food and water throughout the days and nights.
Tethering dogs with a chain is illegal under the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act. ACS officers will patrol for violations. Residents are advised to report animal negligence by dialing 311, the City’s customer service. To report violations online, visit saacs.info/311.
Useful links from the City of San Antonio:
- For information about the 4Ps, a map of places to stay warm, and cold weather tips, visit SA.gov/ColdWeather.
- For the latest forecast from the National Weather Service, visit weather.gov/ewx
- Sign up for emergency notifications at saoemprepare.com/Emergency-Notifications
- Download a Winter Preparedness Guide at saoemprepare.com
- For information on roadway conditions, visit DriveTexas™ or call 800-452-9292.
- For travel planning and other tips visit TxDOT Safety Guide for Winter Travel
- SAWS preparedness materials available at saws.org/beready
- CPS Energy preparedness materials in English and Spanish.
- Fire safety information is available at FireSafeSA.com
KUT's Mose Buchele contributed to this report.
