These 17 Texas cities are under freeze warnings as temperatures drop statewide
An early season cold blast has reached deep into Texas freeze alerts and hard freeze alerts from Central Texas through the Houston metro and into parts of Southeast Texas.
The National Weather Service expects temperatures to drop near or below freezing in many areas, marking the first freeze of the season for parts of the state and raising concerns about both infrastructure and traffic safety.
Texas Cities Explicitly Mentioned in Freeze Warnings
Sources: mysanantonio.com, govonestop.com
Extra large cities within the provinces with frost warning
In and around Houston, a freeze warning from midnight to 9 a.m. Monday calls for lows ranging from the mid-20s north of the city to the mid-30s near the coast.
Farther west, similar warnings are in effect for counties near San Antonio, including DeWitt, Fayette and Lavaca, with expected low temperatures between 28°F and 32°F, described by local meteorologists as the first widespread freeze of the season for that region.
A broader look points to freeze warnings in parts of Southeast Texas and neighboring Gulf states, with the NWS warning of freezing temperatures and an increased risk of frostbite and hypothermia for anyone exposed without adequate protection.
While a large part of the public conversation focuses on protection “people, pets, plants and pipes,” the same cold air mass quietly creates a much more immediate danger: black ice on bridges, viaducts and untreated roads. A major reason why Texas roads are becoming particularly dangerous is that most networks outside the Panhandle are not systematically prepared or plowed for short cold snaps, unlike in northern states where repeated winter events warrant extensive deicing operations and driving experience.
TxDOT’s own winter weather accompaniment underlines the seriousness of the problem. The agency notices this “winter weather creates unpredictable and dangerous driving conditions” and explicitly states that it “strongly advises you to stay off the road” when snow and ice are present.
When travel is unavoidable, TxDOT directs motorists to use it extreme caution and to consult the real-time highway conditions service, DriveTexas.org, which shows closures, accidents and weather-related hazards across the state.
Safety experts point this out bridges and viaducts freeze firstbecause cold air circulates above and below the concrete, causing it to cool faster than the pavement connected to the ground. Guidelines commonly used in driver safety materials warn that even at or just above freezing, shaded or elevated areas can harbor hidden ice.
Officials in other states have documented how “Even a thin layer of ice accumulations … can especially cause significant disruptions and shipwrecks [on] elevated” roadsa principle that applies equally to the viaducts and long river bridges of Texas.
In Texas, these vulnerabilities are magnified by design and behavior. High speed limits on rural highways and farm-to-market roads can leave drivers with little time to react when they unexpectedly encounter a slippery spot. Many drivers, especially in South and Central Texas, have limited experience driving on ice and may not instinctively reduce speed, increase following distance, or avoid cruise control in freezing conditions. TxDOT’s snow and ice guide emphasizes the need to slow down, brake gently and avoid sudden maneuvers to maintain control.
Urban work zones add an extra layer of complexity. Major metro areas such as Houston, Austin and San Antonio are in the midst of long-term highway expansion and interchange projects. Travel Information from Texas Highways and TxDOT notes that DriveTexas’ interactive map highlights construction zones next to weather-related hazards, illustrating how narrowed lanes and changing traffic patterns intersect with cold weather hazards.
In freezing conditions, these narrowed segments become bottlenecks where any loss of traction can quickly lead to multi-vehicle collisions and lengthy closures.
Public agencies in Central Texas are urging residents to sign up for local alerts and monitor both weather forecasts and road conditions. The Austin American-Statesman highlights the Warn Central Texas system, local emergency management channels and TxDOT’s mapping platform as important resources for tracking freeze warnings, health advisories and transportation impacts.
As a TxDOT winter safety notice puts it: “Winter weather will create unpredictable and dangerous driving conditions. TxDOT strongly advises you to stay off the roads.”
For Texans dealing with the freeze warnings this morning, the message is clear: Even short periods of subzero temperatures can turn familiar roads into dangerous onesand the safest strategy is to slow down, stay informed, and avoid unnecessary travel until temperatures rise above freezing and road conditions stabilize.
