As a powerful Arctic cold front barrels into South-Central Texas, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning and Extreme Cold Warning for the Greater San Antonio Area, including Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, and surrounding counties.

Starting Friday night and lasting through Monday, the region faces freezing rain, sleet, subfreezing temperatures, and wind chills as low as -5°F in the Hill Country. In some areas, temperatures may not rise above freezing for 48 hours, making icy roads and power outages a real concern.

Governor Greg Abbott has already declared a disaster in 134 counties across the state, emphasizing, “Job number one is always protecting lives,” and urged residents to prepare for dangerous conditions. ERCOT officials have confirmed the state power grid is operating at full capacity and should remain stable.

Whether you’re in San Antonio, New Braunfels, or any part of South-Central Texas, here’s how to stay safe and protect your home this weekend — with trusted advice from the CDC, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, FEMA, and local authorities.

(Source: National Weather Service - Austin/San Antonio)

Protecting People: Safety First Inside and Out

During extreme cold, hypothermia, frostbite, and carbon monoxide poisoning are among the greatest threats — especially for the elderly, young children, and those without stable housing.

Stay Safe Indoors

• Layer up: Wear warm clothes, especially hats, gloves, and insulated socks. Avoid overexertion, which can increase your risk of heart attack in the cold.

• Heat safely: Space heaters must be kept 3 feet from flammable items and plugged directly into the wall—never into extension cords.

• Never use ovens or grills to heat your home: Doing so can lead to deadly carbon monoxide buildup.

• Install and test carbon monoxide detectors if you haven’t already.

What to Watch For

• Signs of hypothermia: Confusion, slurred speech, drowsiness, shivering, or exhaustion.

• Frostbite symptoms: Numbness, gray or waxy skin, especially on fingers, toes, ears, or nose

If you or someone you know shows symptoms of either, seek immediate medical attention or call 911.

Protecting Pets: Bring Them Inside

The San Antonio Humane Society reminds residents that Texas law prohibits tethering dogs in freezing conditions. Pet safety tips include:

• Bring all pets indoors, especially at night.

• If outdoor shelter is absolutely necessary, insulate it with hay (not blankets), elevate it, and block the wind.

• Knock on your car hood before starting it—cats sometimes seek warmth on the engine.

To report animal cruelty, call 311 and ask for an animal cruelty investigator in your county.

Protecting Plants: Expert Tips from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Texas gardeners know that even a brief freeze can wipe out months of growth. Thankfully, there are reliable methods to safeguard your landscape:

Before the Freeze

• Water your garden: Moist soil holds more heat than dry soil and helps protect roots.

• Cover your plants: Use frost blankets, old sheets, or row covers — avoid plastic touching foliage. Secure them to the ground with weighted objects like bricks and landscaping rocks to trap heat from the soil.

• Add mulch: This insulates soil and protects the base of perennials and young trees.

• Bring containers inside: Pots lose heat quickly. If they must stay outdoors, cluster them together against a wall and cover them.

If you have citrus trees, consider building a soil mound at the trunk base to protect the graft union from cold damage.

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Protecting Pipes: Prevent Bursts Before They Start

Frozen pipes are one of the most costly and common cold weather hazards in Texas. According to the Texas Department of Insurance, here’s how to prevent disaster.

Prep Your Pipes

• Wrap exposed pipes with insulation, foam, or towels.

• Let faucets drip — especially those farthest from the main shutoff. This relieves pressure and introduces slightly warmer water

• Open cabinets under sinks to let warm air circulate.

• Disconnect and drain garden hoses.

• If you're leaving home, shut off your main water supply and leave the heat on low.

If your pipes do freeze, do NOT use a torch to thaw them. Use a hair dryer or call a plumber.

Road Safety: Stay Home If You Can

Icy roads and bridges are already being treated by City of San Antonio, TxDOT, and New Braunfels Public Works crews. But the safest choice is to stay off the roads completely.

If travel is unavoidable:

• Keep a winter emergency kit in your car: blankets, water, snacks, jumper cables, flashlight, and phone charger.

• Check road conditions at DriveTexas.org before heading out.

• If stranded, stay with your vehicle and run the heater intermittently while cracking a window and clearing the exhaust pipe.

Warming Centers in San Antonio and New Braunfels

If you or someone you know doesn’t have reliable heat or shelter, several public facilities in the region are opening their doors for warmth, safety, and support.

San Antonio Resilience Hubs

The City of San Antonio will open six resilience hubs to serve as overnight warming centers for residents seeking refuge from the cold. They will be open 24/7 from Saturday, Jan. 24 at 6 a.m. through Monday, Jan. 26 at noon.

These sites will offer:

• A safe, warm place to stay overnight

• Basic needs and essential supplies

• Access to electricity for device charging

• Free Wi-Fi

• Kennels for pets, housed in a separate area

Residents should bring their own clothing, medications, and personal supplies.

Resilience Hub Locations

• Copernicus Community Center (5003 Lord Road, San Antonio, TX 78220)

• Gilbert Garza Community Center (1450 Mira Vista, San Antonio, TX 78228)

• Miller’s Pond Community Center (6175 Old Pearsall Road, San Antonio, TX 78242)

• Normoyle Community Center (700 Culberson Ave., San Antonio, TX 78225)

• Northeast Senior Center (4135 Thousand Oaks Drive, San Antonio, TX 78233)

• Southside Lions Senior Center (3303 Pecan Valley Drive, San Antonio, TX 78210)

To support individuals experiencing homelessness, the City is also working with nonprofit partners to offer overnight shelter spaces. If you or someone you know needs help, call the City’s Community Connections Hotline at 210-207-1799. 

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Bexar County Warming Centers

Beginning Saturday, January 24 at 6:00 AM until Monday, January 26 at 12:00 PM, Bexar County residents will be welcome at any warming center. 

According to officials, these locations are safe, accessible, and equitable facilities where residents can obtain information and resources in times of need. These locations will have access to basic needs/supplies, shelter from the severe cold, access to power and device charging, and free wi-fi. Additional resources and locations through San Antonio can be found at saoemprepare.com.

• Emergency Service District #7 Annex (11591 Galm Road, San Antonio, TX 78254)

• St. Padre Pio Catholic Church (3843 Bulverde Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78259)

• Christ the King Lutheran Church (1129 Pat Booker Road TX 78148)

• The Rock United Methodist Church (1784 E Loop 1604, St. Hedwig, TX 78101)

• South Side Baptist Church (2010 South Loop 1604 E, San Antonio, TX 78264)

New Braunfels Warming Locations

• Westside Community Center (2932 South I-35 Frontage Road)

  • Open Sat–Mon, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

• Crisis Center of Comal County (655 Landa Street)

  • Open Mon–Wed, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

• Gruene United Methodist Church (2629 E. Common St.)

  • Open Sat: 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m., Sun: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

• NB Housing Partners First Footing Shelter (4120 Loop 337)
  • Open Fri–Tue, 5 p.m.–7:30 a.m.

Wildlife Safety Reminder

Cold weather affects wildlife too, and many residents may come across birds or animals that appear stunned, injured, or in distress during or after the freeze.

Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation (WRR), a nonprofit with facilities in San Antonio and Kendalia, provides critical care to ill, orphaned, or injured wild animals with the goal of releasing them back into the wild.

Here's what you can do—and what you shouldn’t:

• Do not attempt to feed or house wildlife in your home. Even with good intentions, this can harm the animal or yourself.

• Avoid handling injured animals, as they may be in shock or pain and could become defensive.

• If you must move an animal for safety reasons, use gloves or a towel and place it gently in a ventilated box.

• Do not use heating pads or heat lamps, which can cause burns or dehydration.

If you find an animal in need:

• Call the WRR Rescue Hotline at 830-336-2725. This is a voicemail-only system, so leave your name and number clearly for a callback.

• For non-urgent needs, email info@wildlife-rescue.org. 

Locations

• San Antonio Intake Clinic: 11902 Rustic Ln., San Antonio, TX 78230

• Main Sanctuary & Hospital: 335 Old Blanco Rd., Kendalia, TX 78027 (212-acre wildlife hospital and permanent sanctuary)

WRR cares for more than 10,000 native wild animals annually, and over 500 non-releasable animals live permanently at their sanctuary. To learn more or donate to support their work, visit wildlife-rescue.org.

Final Thoughts

This upcoming freeze may rival some of the harshest cold snaps Central Texas has experienced in years. But with early preparation, the right supplies, and a strong community, San Antonio and surrounding areas can weather this storm safely.

Bookmark TexasReady.gov, Ready.gov, and MyNeighborhoodNews.com for continued updates and resources.

Stay safe, stay warm, and take care of one another.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.