Health officials urge cold-weather safety as hard freeze hits Houston area; warming centers open

Hard freeze drives public health warnings

A winter storm pushed the Houston region into a hard freeze on Monday, January 26, 2026, bringing icy roads, school closures, and renewed warnings about cold-related illness. Local updates described temperatures dropping into the 20s, hazardous bridge and overpass icing, and disruptions to public transit and air travel as officials urged residents to limit travel and stay warm.

With conditions dangerous for people without stable heating, Harris County and the City of Houston expanded cold-weather response efforts, including opening warming centers and sheltering large numbers of residents. Officials and public health agencies emphasized the importance of checking on vulnerable neighbors, especially older adults and people experiencing homelessness.

Hypothermia and frostbite: what to watch for

Local public health messaging reminded residents that hypothermia is a medical emergency and can occur not only in extreme cold but also at cooler temperatures when someone becomes wet from rain, sweat, or cold water. Early signs can include shivering, confusion, exhaustion, fumbling hands, and slurred speech. Frostbite risk also rises as wind chills drop, especially for fingers, toes, ears, and the nose.

Officials urged residents who must go outside to dress in layers, keep skin covered, limit exposure time, and seek immediate help if symptoms appear. People were also reminded to use heating sources safely and to avoid risky practices that can lead to fires or carbon monoxide exposure.

Warming centers, closures, and the next freeze

Houston-area districts and campuses adjusted operations as road conditions remained uncertain, with some schools planning to reopen Tuesday while others evaluated whether closures should continue. Transit agencies altered service because of ice on roadways, while utilities monitored and responded to scattered outages as the cold persisted.

Forecasts in the local reporting indicated another hard freeze was expected early Tuesday, increasing concerns about burst pipes and extended exposure risk. Residents were encouraged to follow local emergency guidance, prepare for cold overnight temperatures, and use available resources such as warming centers when needed.