You probably woke up this morning to a house that felt a little bit more like Chicago than the Bayou City. Honestly, it’s cold. If you haven’t checked the thermometer yet, we are currently staring down a light freeze across most of Southeast Texas.
Local houston news today is basically dominated by two things: the biting cold and the massive Texans game happening up in Foxborough. Whether you’re trying to keep your pipes from bursting or you're just looking for a place to watch the divisional playoffs without losing a toe to frostbite, there is a lot to keep track of this Sunday, January 18.
The Big Freeze: Who is Actually Under 32 Degrees?
The cold front that blew through yesterday didn't play around. Temperatures dropped nearly 20 degrees in a matter of hours, and this morning, the "burbs" are feeling it the most. While downtown Houston is hovering right around 35 or 36 degrees, if you live in Katy, The Woodlands, or Sugar Land, you’re likely looking at 29 to 31 degrees.
It’s that classic Houston "dry freeze" where the wind makes it feel like 20. Meteorologists at the Houston Chronicle are warning that while the sun will come out today, we won't see the 40s until at least mid-morning.
- Pipes and Plants: If you didn't cover your outdoor faucets last night, do it now. It’s better late than never, especially with the wind chill.
- The Pets: Seriously, bring them in. It’s too cold for any pup to be sitting on concrete.
- Roads: Most roads are dry, but be careful on overpasses in Montgomery County where a little lingering moisture could have turned into "black ice."
The good news? This isn't a 2021 repeat. We aren't looking at a week-long grid failure. It’s just a standard, annoying Texas winter spike that’ll be gone by the middle of the week when rain chances start creeping back up.
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Texans vs. Patriots: The Game Everyone is Talking About
At 3:00 p.m. today, the city is going to come to a standstill. The Houston Texans are in Massachusetts facing the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round. This is huge.
Coming off that gritty defensive win against the Steelers, the Texans are literally one win away from their first-ever AFC Championship appearance. Everyone's talking about the "worst-to-first" narrative, and honestly, it’s hard not to get swept up in it. Even without Nico Collins, the vibe around the team is electric.
Vegas has the Patriots as 3-point favorites, but after watching the Texans' defense score twice last week, nobody in Houston is betting against them. If you're heading out to a watch party, just remember that the Washburn Tunnel is closed until 10:00 a.m. today for maintenance, so plan your route to the sports bar accordingly.
Where to Watch if You’re Out and About
If you aren't hunkered down under a weighted blanket at home, a few spots are hosting major events:
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- CITYCENTRE’s Plaza: They’ve got the game on, but with this weather, you’ll want to be near one of the outdoor heaters.
- Discovery Green: They have the Green Mountain Energy Ice rink open today. You can skate and then find a nearby bar to catch the kickoff.
- Toyota Center: The Rockets are playing the Pelicans later tonight at 6:00 p.m., and they’re giving away Jabari Smith Jr. bobbleheads to the first 3,000 fans. It’s a double-header day for Houston sports fans.
City Hall Drama: The $30 Million Fight
Away from the sports world, there's some serious tension at 901 Bagby Street. Mayor John Whitmire and City Controller Chris Hollins are locked in a feud over $30 million from the Stormwater Fund.
Whitmire wants to use that cash to tear down roughly 340 blighted and abandoned buildings. His logic? These buildings are magnets for illegal dumping. When people dump trash at these sites, it eventually washes into the ditches and clogs the drainage system, which—you guessed it—leads to more flooding.
Hollins isn't buying it. He’s called the plan "illegal" and says knocking down a house isn't the same as maintaining a drainage pipe. He basically thinks the Mayor is using a flood-prevention "lockbox" as a slush fund for urban cleanup. It’s a messy political fight that’s been brewing for two weeks, and it doesn't look like either side is backing down.
What Else is Happening Around Town?
If you’re trying to ignore the cold and the football, there are a few cultural hits today. It’s the final day for "Beauty and the Beast" at the Hobby Center. If you have tickets for the matinee, give yourself extra time for parking because downtown is going to be busy with people prep-gaming for the Texans.
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Also, the International Gem & Jewelry Show is wrapping up at the NRG Center. It's a solid indoor option if you need to escape the wind.
Local Crime and Safety Alerts
Police are currently investigating a tragic shooting in East Houston that happened Saturday. A juvenile was killed after a shooting led to a car crash near Wayside Drive and Tidwell Road. It’s a grim reminder that even on a quiet, cold weekend, the city has its "hot spots" that require extra caution.
Authorities are also pushing out a fresh warning about scam texts. If you get a text from "your bank" asking you to click a link because of a "suspicious login," ignore it. These scams have spiked in Harris County over the last 48 hours.
Tomorrow’s Big Event: The MLK Unity Parade
Don't forget that tomorrow is Monday, January 19, and for the first time in three decades, Houston’s two major MLK parades are merging into one. The MLK Unity Parade starts at 10:00 a.m. downtown at Lamar and Smith.
It’s a massive logistical undertaking, and it’s expected to bring out hundreds of thousands of people. If you’re planning to attend, the weather should be slightly warmer than today, but still chilly.
Actionable Steps for Houstonians Today
- Check your irrigation: If you have an automatic sprinkler system, turn it off. Running it during a freeze creates "ice rinks" on the sidewalk, which is a liability you don't want.
- Monitor the Texans' injury report: Watch the pre-game shows starting at 1:00 p.m. to see the final status on the defensive line; that’s where this game will be won or lost.
- Plan your commute: Check Houston TranStar before you leave the house. With the Washburn Tunnel closure and ongoing construction on I-10 near Studemont, Sunday traffic isn't as "lazy" as it used to be.
- Hydrate your plants: Weirdly, watering your plants before a freeze helps protect the roots by insulating them. If they’re already frozen, just wait until the sun hits them later today.
Stay warm, keep the pipes covered, and let's see if the Texans can actually pull off the impossible this afternoon.