UPDATE: National Weather Service Upgrades Previous Watch to Hard Freeze Warning

UPDATE: The National Weather Service of Houston/Galveston has upgraded the previous Freeze Watch to a Hard Freeze Warning for The Woodlands and surrounding communities.

The new warning goes into effect tonight at 9:00pm to 9:00am tomorrow morning. The previous Freeze Watch is no longer in effect.

Very cold temperatures are expected tonight with temperatures falling to between 24 and 27 degrees by early tomorrow morning. The same precautions for the Freeze Watch apply to the new Hard Freeze Warning.

ORIGINAL STORY:
HOUSTON, Texas - The National Weather Service of Houston/Galveston has issued a Freeze Watch for The Woodlands and surrounding communities. This watch goes into effect March 5, from 12:00am to 8:00am.

A Freeze Watch means sub-freezing temperatures are possible. These conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.

According to the NWS, 'High pressure will settle over North Texas on today into tonight. This will allow for some very cold air to filter into the region late tonight into Tuesday. Temperatures will fall below freezing over areas north of Houston around midnight and could be below freezing for 5 to 8 hours. Low temperatures by Tuesday morning could be in the mid 20`s north of a Columbus to Conroe to Cleveland line and could need a hard freeze warning. Further south a light freeze will be possible with temperatures near 30 for 1 to 3 hours.'

Please prepare your home and business now. Plants that are sensitive to cold temperatures should be brought inside or covered up, pets should be brought inside and pipes should be well insulated.

Below are some heating safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association:

Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths. Half of home heating equipment fires are
reported during the months of December, January, and February. Some simple steps can prevent
most heating-related fires from happening.

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace,
fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or
central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified
professional.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes
should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance
away from your home.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month.