The Farmers' Almanac just sent shivers down the spines of Texans with its latest winter forecast. After a relatively easy summer, residents don’t want a repeat of Snowmageddon 2021.
According to the publication, the upcoming winter forecast calls for a season of dramatic swings and widespread wintry weather.
“Texas and the Southern Plains are on tap for a wetter-than-average winter with periodic cold snaps,” advised the Farmers’ Almanac 2025 – 2026.
Stay Protected in a Prepared Home
The safest place for people, pets and tender plants is indoors during a cold snap. Fall is the best time to prepare for winter to prevent repairs during a winter storm or property damage.
Most Texas homes can handle hotter temperatures better than colder ones. Texas homes lack basements that hold the building systems. Plumbing is routinely exposed to the outdoors.
The Texas Department of Insurance offers a checklist to prepare residents for winter’s onset. It is also important to know what your policy covers in case of damage.
Prepare the Inside of your Home in the Fall
- Get your chimney inspected and cleaned. Creosote buildup can start a fire.
- Get your heating system inspected to ensure it’s safe and will last the winter.
- Test your carbon monoxide and smoke alarms. Alarms older than 10 years should be replaced.
- Seal leaks or cracks around water supply lines.
- Check your attic insulation for areas that need repair.
Prepare the Outside of Your Home in the Fall
- Trim trees hanging over your house and cars.
- Clean the gutters.
- Winterize your pool. If the temperatures dip below freezing, run the pump to keep the pipes from freezing.
- Find your water shutoff valve. It’s usually under a metal lid near the street between your house and the larger manhole cover with the city water shutoff valve. Test the valve to make sure it’s not stuck and that you can shut it off in an emergency. If you can’t, contact a plumber to replace it.
In the days before a winter storm with subfreezing temperatures, the Texas Department of Insurance advises protecting pipes. It is best to wrap or cover outdoor pipes and remember the unheated areas (like a washer in the garage). Irrigation systems also need to be drained and turned off.
During a freeze event, the Texas Department of Insurance advises people to open plumbing cabinets in bathrooms and kitchens to keep those spaces warm. Let the faucets drip from the cold and hot taps or run water through your indoor faucets during extended periods of freezing weather, like overnight.
If the pipes freeze, then turn off the water at the shutoff valve. This will prevent property damage when they thaw.
Keeping the Lights on This Winter
Trees are an essential part of the landscape; however, during an ice storm, a falling limb can sever a power line. This is why tree trimming is a necessary activity.
According to San Bernard Electric Co-op (SBEC), who serve the northern parts of Austin County, tree-trimming contractors rotate throughout its service area on a five-year clearing cycle. However, sometimes vegetation grows back sooner.
For those within the SBEC service area, customers can report vegetation issues to a dedicated department. It is reached at 979-865-3171 or 800-364-3171.
SBEC now offers a one-way text alert service to receive messages from SBEC during an emergency, including prolonged power interruptions and mandated rolling outages.
Customers can add their mobile phone number to TextPower by texting 85700 on their phone.
The San Bernard Electric Co-op also advises customers to have an emergency kit on hand.
- flashlights
- batteries
- bottled water
- nonperishable food
- blankets
- matches
- first-aid supplies
- medications (over-the-counter and prescription)
- pet supplies
- battery banks for charging devices
- all-weather radio
- multipurpose tool
- air-activated heat packs
- hand sanitizer
- a list of important numbers, including your SBEC account number, and SBEC’s outage reporting and emergency line, 800-364-3171.
For CenterPoint customers, report outages to 713-207-2222 or visit https://tracker.centerpointenergy.com/map/texas.
They’re Family Too! Protecting Pets This Winter
People aren’t the only ones who need protection during cold snaps. Pets need help too.
“If it’s too cold for you to stay outside, it’s too cold for your dog. Shivering and trembling are signs that your dog is too cold,” said Judi Burttschell, of Burttschell Rescue Ranch, a local 501c3 animal nonprofit.
Burttschell also advised to keep walks short if it’s under 45°F. For animals that stay outside, like feral cats, wooden dog houses with straw are warmer than blankets. She explained that blankets can get wet, and straw is better to keep the heat in.
“We blanket here under 40°F if a horse doesn’t grow a winter coat,” Burttschell said, an avid horse lover. She also advised on more hay to eat and shelter from the wind and rain.
Burttschell Rescue Ranch is an all-volunteer dog and horse rescue located in Sealy. It is always in need of volunteers and funds, both supplies and monetary donations. To learn more, visit its website at BurttschellRescueRanch.com.
Keep Plants Protected for a Better Spring
Many get great joy from their plants and gardens. However, a couple of degrees can be the difference between green and growing and brown and gone.
According to Tiger Eye Landscape Supply in Sealy, gardeners need to feed the root system over the winter by fertilizing naturally with compost products, applied in the fall.
It also recommends mulching twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. This protects the root system and offers additional nutrients.
Water is also another consideration for overwintering plants. Tiger Eye Landscape Supply recommended that plants be watered twice a week during dry spells.
For help with plant selection for the Texas landscape, visit its nursery. Its knowledgeable staff answers questions and provides suggestions to homeowners.
Tiger Eye Landscape Supply is located at 1210 US-90, Sealy, TX. Tiffany Jackson opened the storefront in March 2025, selling annual flowers, vegetables, perennials and bulk landscape supplies that can be delivered.
Car Care for Winter
Cars are not immune to cold-weather issues. From dead batteries to lower tire pressure to frozen locks or wiper blades, vehicles sometimes struggle on a cold morning.
According to Jerry Miller, owner of Miller’s Auto Repair in Sealy, battery health and tire pressure are the most significant issues that most vehicles struggle with.
“The average battery life in Texas is 4 to 5 years; however, if your battery is 3 or 4 years old, you need to test it. It will struggle in the winter,” advised Miller.
According to Miller, with today’s tire pressure sensors, a cold morning in the teens can trigger the indicator lights. In the cold, tire pressure drops just like air temperature.
Another issue that Miller sees in his shop is a coolant leak. A customer will have a slow coolant leak and top it off with plain water. If there’s too much water, the radiator can freeze and burst, since many are made of plastic.
Jerry Miller has been in the automotive business for over 10 years. Miller’s Auto Repair is located at 700 S FM 331 Road, Sealy, TX.
ABOUT THE WRITER
Award-winning journalist, Catherine Parker, contributes to USA Today 10Best, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, Lonely Planet, and a host of regional magazines. Catherine publishes a travel website, CarfulOfKids.com, that syndicates daily to MSN. As a native Texan, she traveled through much of the state after graduating from the University of Houston. She lives east of Austin in a 100-year-old house that she renovated with a host of hand tools and a lot of grit. Catherine takes winter preparations seriously after riding out the Winter Storm of 1921 in several coats. Her snow-covered family, animals and home are featured in this issue.
Comment
Comments