January 2025 Texas winter storm updates
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has issued a freezing precipitation advisory for Wednesday, Jan. 8, through Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. Major areas across Texas, particularly the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, may see freezing temperatures and a snow/rain mix. Extreme winter weather conditions can introduce potential power concerns and risks for Texas residents. Learn how to protect your home and stay safe during this winter storm.
What does this advisory mean for Texans?
An ERCOT weather advisory indicates a significant storm is approaching, and Texans may experience extreme winter conditions that could impact their power supply. This winter storm is expected to bring snow, ice, and freezing rain to north Texas. To manage the cold, you may rely more heavily on electricity to keep your home warm. To mitigate any power supply challenges, ERCOT has added more than 10,000 megawatts of new power, which should help meet the increased demand. Despite these upgrades, it’s important to prepare for power outages and potential hazards.
How to prepare before a winter storm
Don’t wait for the storm to hit to prepare your home. Follow these safety tips to start prepping your home and avoid harm during the storm.
Weatherproof your home
Cracks in your windows, doors, and roof can let warm air escape and water leak inside. Seal gaps with whatever you have handy to keep your home warm and dry during a winter storm. Duct tape, trash bags, or rolled-up blankets in front of doors would all work.
Freezing temperatures may make your water pipes more susceptible to bursting, which can lead to flooding in your home. An easy precaution when the temperature dips below freezing is to leave your faucets slightly open to keep the water dripping. Small amounts of running water have been found to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.
Prepare your car
Freezing temperatures can lead to icy roads and dangerous driving conditions. It’s best to avoid driving on icy roads; however, if you must drive somewhere, take a few safety measures to protect yourself on the road. Check your car’s tire pressure, heater, brakes, and battery. These are essential to ensure your car is running smoothly. Lastly, make sure your car has plenty of gas or is fully charged if you have an EV.
Build an emergency kit
An emergency kit will help you and your family stay safe during a winter storm. If you have a chance to make it to a store ahead of the wintery mix, consider stocking up on these essentials:
- One gallon of water per person for at least three days
- Three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Flashlights
- Extra batteries
- First-aid kit
- A week’s supply of necessary prescription medications
- Battery-powered radio
- Pet supplies
- Portable cell phone charger
While this list is not exhaustive, it includes necessary supplies to help you get through a potential power outage. Remember to regularly check your first aid kit and prescription medications to ensure nothing has expired.
Electrical and heating safety tips
While the power supply should be sufficient during this storm, here are some tips for staying safe during an outage. If your electricity goes out and you rely on a generator for essential devices, keep it outdoors in a well-ventilated area. Generators pose a fire risk and can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
Candles are notorious for causing fires inside the house. While it may be nice to enjoy candlelight, opt for a battery-powered flashlight or lantern during a power outage to reduce your fire risk. If candles are your only option, always keep an eye on them while they are lit. You should also never rely on your oven or a grill to provide heat indoors, as they can release toxic chemicals into the air.
Preserving the heat in your home without power can be tricky, but you can do a few things to help. Start by keeping all doors and windows closed to prevent cold air from entering. While it may be appealing to close vents in unused rooms, it can do more harm to your furnace. It also helps to keep your refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible. This will prevent cold air from escaping and preserve the lifetime of your food.
Electrical safety after the storm
There are also some electrical concerns after the storm has passed. A power surge is a rush of electricity that occurs when the power comes back on after an outage. If large appliances and electronics remain plugged in during an outage, a power surge could destroy the integrated computer when the power returns. Unplug large appliances such as your refrigerator, freezer, TV, and computer to avoid potential damage if you can.
Stay up to date on Texas’ forecast
The National Weather Service anticipates the storm to begin Thursday morning and continue into Friday afternoon. Peak conditions will occur between Thursday evening and Friday morning. Continuing to check the Dallas-Fort Worth forecast at star-telegram.com and the National Weather Service website to stay up-to-date as the storm progresses. If you experience a power outage during the storm, contact Oncor Electric Delivery for updates. You can call Oncor’s 24/7 customer service line at 888-313-4747.
This story was originally published January 9, 2025 at 9:02 AM.