City and county officials in Houston and surrounding areas, along with nonprofit organizations, are opening shelters and warming centers to provide residents a respite from the cold.

Harris County is preparing for an impending Arctic front, with Judge Lina Hidalgo announcing a readiness plan to keep residents safe and warm.

Mayor John Whitmire on Wednesday defended the city’s response to last week’s cold blast, saying officials “worked around” a stringent policy that kept them from opening warming centers, and they tried to make sure those who needed shelter got it.

A winter storm is set to bring snow, sleet and potential ice accumulation to the Greater Houston area Jan. 21.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire says the previous administration's policy is why he could not open the warming centers during Houston's first winter freeze of 2025.

Houston will open 10 warming centers Sunday night as the region prepares for another round of cold weather. Starting Sunday, temperatures in Houston are expected to plummet and the majority of the state will likely see a hard freeze. The warming centers will be open at the following locations:

Ten warming centers will open the evening of Sunday, Jan. 19, Mayor John Whitmire announced during a Jan. 17 press conference. The details The city of Houston is expected to see a

Houston officials are preparing for severe cold weather expected to hit the region Sunday night, with Mayor John Whitmire announcing the activation of warming centers across the city to protect vulnerable residents.

Mayor John Whitmire said the city is doing everything possible to make things safe for Houstonians, including opening 10 warming centers across the area.