Baby, it’s cold outside! Brace for temperatures not felt since Uri

The bad news for Gonzales County is that temperatures are expected to drop lower than they have been since Winter Storm Uri blasted the region in February 2021.

The good news, however, is that — unlike nearly two years ago — no precipitation is expected to fall in the area, so travel for the Christmas weekend should not be impeded, nor should snow and ice cause additional pains for those wishing to simply enjoy a quiet holiday at home.

The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting a cold front will move through South Central Texas on Thursday, bringing with it the coldest air of the season so far.

Temperatures on Thursday night, Dec. 22, and Friday morning, Dec. 23, are expected to drop to as low as 17 degrees in Gonzales County with a morning wind chill right near 0 degrees Farenheit and wind speeds around 25 mph.

Gonzales County and other areas of the Coastal Plains could see freezing temperatures in the region for nearly 42 hours from late Thursday afternoon to early Saturday afternoon. Low temperatures on Saturday are expected to be around 20 degrees and will finally rise to around 40 degrees on Saturday afternoon.

“No precipitation will occur with this cold spell,” the NWS stated in a situation report from Tuesday, Dec. 20.

The NWS is reminding people to “remember the 4Ps of cold weather: people, pets, plants and pipes.” People are encouraged to pay special attention to children and the elderly and to dress in layers and a hat that covers the ears to retain body heat and to wear gloves. Pets should be brought inside and any that must be left outside should have an enclosed shelter with an entrance facing away from any wind with plenty of blankets for warmth.

Plants in containers should be brought inside if possible and water outdoor plants before a freeze to add insulation to the soil; cover any plants if at all possible. Water should be allowed to drop from faucets, especially those facing exterior walls. Open cabinet doors and eliminate rafts where water supply lines are located in unheated areas.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which manages the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers including Gonzales County, said it “continues to closely monitor weather forecasts and models.”

“ERCOT expects sufficient generation to meet forecasted demand and will continue to provide updates,” the organization said in a press release, noting that an Operating Condition Notice has been issued to transmission and distribution owners and generation resources that temperatures will meet ERCOT’s criteria of 25 degrees or lower in the Austin/San Antonio areas between Thursday, Dec. 22 through Monday, Dec. 26.

“Over the past 18 months, ERCOT has worked closely with the Public Utility Commission and elected officials to implement reforms and increase grid reliability, including weatherization, bringing more generation online sooner if needed, and purchasing more reserve power. As a result, the reliability and resiliency of the grid has been strengthened significantly,” the press release stated.

“Providing Texans with a reliable electric grid is our highest priority. As we monitor weather conditions, we want to assure Texans that the grid is resilient and reliable,” said Pablo Vegas, ERCOT president and CEO. “We will keep the public informed as weather conditions change throughout the coming week.

During Winter Storm Uri, some 5,000 Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative customers (GVEC) were left without powers due to both frigid weather conditions which downed power lines throughout the coverage area as well as mandated, controlled rolling outages which were designed by ERCOT to shed power load. Cities in Gonzales County also reported water main breaks and issued boil water notices to make drinking water safe for consumption due to a loss of system pressure that prevented treating the water supply for bacteria and other parasites.

Gonzales City Manager Tim Crow said Wednesday the city has been “winterizing everything we can in preparation for the cold weather” and is keeping a close eye on the city’s water system to make sure it continues to operate without interruption.

“We’ve also reached out to the ministerial alliance in case there is a need to provide shelter or other items to people due to the cold,” Crow said. “We are hoping that we get a dry cold front that comes through without causing any problems for anyone.”