ERCOT issues ‘weather watch’ for Texas power grid ahead of major Arctic cold, ice
The Texas power grid will have enough electricity to meet demand as North and Central Texas plunge into single-digit temperatures this weekend, according to ERCOT.
The National Weather Service is predicting extreme cold from Saturday into Monday. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, weather service says there is the potential for a “significant intrusion of Arctic air and impactful wintry precipitation” starting on Friday and stretching into the weekend.
Authorities are warning Texans to prepare for potential power outages, especially if there’s freezing rain and ice.
But Texas’ power grid is expected to hold up, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages the flow of electricity across most of the state.
“Based on expected weather conditions, ERCOT anticipates there will be sufficient generation to meet demand this winter,” ERCOT said in an emailed statement Tuesday morning. “ERCOT will continue to deploy all available resources to manage the grid reliably and coordinate closely with the Public Utility Commission, generation providers, and transmission utilities.”
On Wednesday, ERCOT issued a Weather Watch for Jan. 24-27 due to “forecasted below-freezing temperatures with the possibility of frozen precipitation, higher electrical demand, and the potential for lower reserves.” ERCOT again stressed that grid conditions are expected to be normal.
“An ERCOT Weather Watch is an advance notification of forecasted significant weather with higher electrical demand and the potential for lower reserves,” the Wednesday ERCOT new release reads. “At this time, grid conditions are expected to be normal, and there is no current expectation of an energy emergency. “
ERCOT said it’s coordinating with state agencies and markets in preparation for the extreme cold.
Texans have closely monitored Texas’ power grid and its capability since a deadly 2021 winter storm, when people across the state were left without water and electricity for days.
In more recent winter weather events, ERCOT has reminded Texans that outages are likely localized and caused by things like fallen tree branches, rather than the amount of electricity available in the power grid.
How much electricity is available on Texas’ power grid
As of about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, the power grid was operating under normal conditions, with enough power to meet current demand.
A forecast through Jan. 26 shows more available capacity than predicted demand.
Power outage.us, which tracks power outages in the United States, shows about 6,700 Texas customers experiencing power outages as of about 3:30 p.m.
Oncor, an electricity delivery company that serves much of North Texas, said it has activated its storm readiness operation, is monitoring forecasts and preparing for possible service impacts.
Preparations include sending additional equipment to service centers, increasing the number of response crews available, annual winter preparations like electrical facility inspections and tree trimming over the past year, according to a news release.
“We recognize the worry that comes with winter storms, especially while forecasts are still developing,” Oncor meteorologist Kaiti Blake said in a statement. “Oncor has prepared for winter weather and our field teams have decades of experience safely restoring power in freezing temperatures. We’ll continue to monitor and share updates on forecasts over the next few days. We encourage customers to stay weather aware and take steps today to prepare their homes and businesses.”
Ice on tree branches and power lines is the primary risk to electric services, according to Oncor. In the past, electric services have also been disrupted due to car accidents.
“Historically, vehicle accidents during severe winter weather contribute to an increase in power outages and damage to Oncor equipment,” the news release reads.
Live updates on Texas’ power grid
ERCOT keeps a dashboard with live updates and forecasts for Texas’ power grid:
- Current grid conditions
- A supply and demand electricity forecast
- The type of power being generated (Solar, wind, gas, etc.)
- Generation outages
This story was originally published January 20, 2026 at 11:28 AM.
