Colder weather is moving into Texas, and Governor Greg Abbott says he's activating emergency response teams to cope with the freezing temperatures expected this week.
Two days ago he directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate state emergency response resources ahead of increased severe weather threats.
Now he's set to meet with about half a dozen state personnel directors who are part of the response.
Gov. Abbott will hold a news conference on Monday morning to brief the public and the news media about the emergency response plans.
Among those expected to join him at the Monday briefing are Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Texas Department of Transportation Executive Director Marc Williams, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) CEO Pablo Vegas, Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chair Thomas Gleeson, and other state officials and emergency management personnel.
Temperatures will be dropping through the first half of the week throughout the state as an arctic blast moves through, accompanied by some strong winds and cold rain that could turn to light freezing rain in North Texas along the Red River, according to the National Weather Service.
Wind chills are expected to reach zero degrees or even below zero in most of North Texas, and a hard freeze is expected through much of the state all the way down to the Gulf of America coast.
Freezing temperatures are also possible in San Antonio and Central Texas Wednesday, Thursday and even Friday mornings, and temperatures as low as 14 degrees are expected all three days in West Texas.