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A chilly entrance is anticipated to maneuver into San Antonio this weekend, bringing subfreezing temperatures and an opportunity for freezing rain and sleet that might make roads hazardous in keeping with the Nationwide Climate Service.
Whereas temperatures are anticipated to start dropping alongside rain Friday night into Saturday morning, NWS meteorologist Eric Platt stated freezing rain may quickly comply with.
“Because the chilly air continues to maneuver southward into the area, Saturday night after sundown is once we assume we may begin to see some rain and freezing rain,” he stated.
Platt stated that the forecast at present requires a mixture of rain, freezing rain and sleet — with no snow on the forecast but — primarily in the course of the in a single day interval.
“Saturday night time and even into Sunday morning, we’re going to be contending with wherever from a few 40 to a 60% likelihood for freezing rain and there could possibly be perhaps even somewhat little bit of a sleet combination in there,” Platt stated.” In order that’s the time interval that San Antonio has to essentially take note of.”
With many residents nonetheless remembering the February 2021 winter storm, Platt stated this weekend’s chilly entrance is just not anticipated to be a repeat of that extended statewide emergency — however he cautioned that icing situations, even when short-lived, can nonetheless trigger crashes and harmful journey.
“It’s going to be chilly sufficient to the place we’re going to have to fret about some icing on some bridges and overpasses, perhaps even a number of the secondary roads,” he stated. “We’re taking a look at a low temperature of across the low 20s for Saturday night time, after which for Sunday, we’ll keep at a low freezing just about via a lot of the morning.”
Temperatures are anticipated to rise above freezing Sunday afternoon, with highs within the higher 30s, decreasing icing danger — although wind chills may drop into the only digits Sunday morning. Temperatures are anticipated to remain low all through mid week however with decrease possibilities for rain on the time of publication.
“I’m not saying there’s going to be one other repeat of 2021, however we do should regulate this one,” Platt stated.
Staying ready, warming shelters
Metropolis steering urges residents to organize for freezing temperatures by defending the “4 P’s” — folks, pets, property and pipes — and checking in on older adults and different weak neighbors.
Residents who want a heat place to remain can discover city-run sources, together with libraries, group facilities and senior facilities open throughout common hours, via town’s chilly climate web page at SA.gov/ColdWeather.
The Metropolis of San Antonio and Bexar County will collectively function 11 in a single day warming shelters that open Saturday and shut Monday at midday. Each native governments are encouraging residents to carry remedy and different private provides in the event that they make the most of the shelters.
Northeast Senior Heart — 4135 Thousand Oaks Drive, San Antonio
Gilbert Garza Neighborhood Heart — 1450 Mira Vista, San Antonio
Normoyle Neighborhood Heart — 700 Culberson Ave., San Antonio
Miller’s Pond Neighborhood Heart — 6175 Previous Pearsall Highway, San Antonio
Southside Lions Senior Heart — 3303 Pecan Valley Drive, San Antonio
Copernicus Neighborhood Heart — 5003 Lord Highway, San Antonio
South Aspect Baptist Church – 2010 South Loop 1604 E, San Antonio
Emergency Service District #7 Annex – 11591 Galm Highway, San Antonio
St. Padre Pio Catholic Church – 3843 Bulverde Parkway, San Antonio
Christ the King Lutheran Church –1129 Pat Booker Highway
The Rock United Methodist Church – 1784 E Loop 1604, St. Hedwig
Metropolis officers and teams like SAMMinistries, Haven for Hope, Corazon, Communities Below the Bridge are additionally mobilizing to assist unhoused residents in San Antonio. Further shelters shall be open particularly for homeless folks.
Metropolis of San Antonio Bode Neighborhood Heart — 901 Rigsby Ave
Communities Below the Bridge (CUB) — 724 Chestnut St.
Corazon San Antonio — 504 Ave E
New Route Church — 1139 Gembler and 1802 Guadalupe (feminine solely)
To verify shelter availability or join somebody to outreach companies, residents can name the Neighborhood Connections Hotline at 210-207-1799 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday via Friday.
Are faculties prepared for chilly climate?
San Antonio ISD says it has taken steps to keep away from a repeat of the heating failures that disrupted faculties throughout chilly snaps in 2024 and 2025. District officers say SAISD has invested bond funding into HVAC upgrades, inspected boilers forward of winter climate and applied a preventive upkeep program aimed toward maintaining campuses secure and operational throughout sudden temperature drops.
CPS Power, SAWS put together for outages, freezing pipes
CPS Power has crews on standby, in keeping with public relations supervisor Dana Sotoodeh. “CPS Power is monitoring the winter climate anticipated later this week. Services have been weatherized and crews are on standby,” she stated in an e mail.
CPS Power is worried about downed energy traces and falling tree branches, Sotoodeh added, and she or he urged residents to steer clear of fallen energy traces. In case of outages, it might take CPS Power staff time to resolve points.
SAWS urged residents to insulate above-ground pipes, however was not involved about underground infrastructure, stated SAWS Communications Director Anne Hayden.
“Whereas climate shall be chilly, we don’t count on any main points,” she stated in an e mail.
The bottom gained’t freeze, Hayden stated, so freezing in uncovered pipes, sprinkler methods, taps and unoccupied buildings is an even bigger fear.
“Any constructing left uncovered can have pipes freeze up. Regular insulation and water use in the home needs to be advantageous,” she stated.
Bexar County Public Works can also be planning to deploy liquid de-icing agent and finely floor stone if roadways freeze over. Greater than a dozen vans and 130 workers are ready to deal with icy streets, in keeping with a Bexar County press launch.
Is ERCOT prepared for excessive chilly climate?
Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday directed the Texas Division of Emergency Administration to activate state emergency response sources forward of potential winter climate anticipated to maneuver throughout the state starting Thursday.
In an announcement, Abbott urged Texans to stay weather-aware and verify highway situations earlier than touring. The state activation contains TxDOT crews pre-treating roadways, DPS troopers patrolling highways, and Texas Nationwide Guard high-profile automobiles that may help stranded motorists, together with monitoring of infrastructure and utilities via businesses together with the Public Utility Fee and the Railroad Fee.
Texas infrastructure ought to have sufficient energy to satisfy demand, in keeping with the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, which oversees a lot of the state’s grid.
“Based mostly on anticipated climate situations, ERCOT anticipates there shall be adequate technology to satisfy demand this winter,” learn an ERCOT assertion. “We’re persevering with to observe the climate situations all through this week and hold Texans knowledgeable via our communications channels.”
ERCOT got here underneath hearth after Winter Storm Uri in 2021. Since then, ERCOT has taken steps to weatherize its infrastructure and construct up contingency and backup energy provides, in keeping with an announcement from the group.
ERCOT additionally has a notification system in English and Spanish that can inform Texans when demand for electrical energy is excessive and conservation is likely to be vital. It’s free to enroll.
