The City of Kemah Emergency Management continues to monitor the possible weather developments making their way towards our region. As we continue to track these developments, now is a good time to review your significant weather event preparedness plans.
In addition to our Emergency Preparedness document for a quick overview of what you will need to be aware of during events like this, we also highly recommend visiting www.GCOEM.org to download the Galveston County Emergency and Disaster Guide. It is filled with tips and information to help you prepare.
The City of Kemah urges you to please stay abreast of weather developments by following local weather news reports for Galveston County. And observing communications from the US National Weather Service Houston-Galveston Texas for the latest information.
The National Weather Service has produced the following information:
Overview
- An Arctic frontal passed through the area last night.
- Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for portions of the region for freezing rain and sleet.
- Cold weather (lows in the 20s, wind chills in teens) tonight and Friday night. While cold, this is not comparable to the Winter event last February in either strength or duration. Hard Freeze Warnings and Wind Chill Advisories are in effect for portions of the region tonight.
- Strong northwesterly winds and high seas through Friday. Gale Warning in effect into Friday for Matagorda Bay and all Gulf Waters, with a Small Craft Advisory in effect for Galveston Bay.
Overview Update
- The Winter Weather Advisory has been expanded to inland portions of Liberty, Galveston, Brazoria, Matagorda, and Jackson counties, and all of Harris County this evening.
- The Gale Warning and Small Craft Advisory is in effect.
- Wind Advisory is in effect along the immediate coast around Matagorda today for wind gusts up to 35mph.
- A Wind Chill Advisory and Hard Freeze Warning has been issued for parts of the region tonight.
Winter Weather
The cold front moved through the region. An overlap between lingering precipitation with the freezing temperatures will produce freezing rain for parts of the region. Main threat being light icing for elevated surfaces like roads and bridges. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Burleson, Brazos, Madison, and Houston Counties where over an eighth of an inch of ice accumulation is expected. Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for Grimes, Washington, Austin, and Colorado counties this morning where up to a tenth of an inch of ice accumulation is expected. The Winter Weather Advisory gets expanded to the I-59 corridor (including the majority of the City of Houston) starting at 2pm, and then to inland portions of Liberty, Galveston, Brazoria, Matagorda, and Jackson counties, and all of Harris County at 8pm. These products will continue through the night.
Temperatures tonight will dip into the low to mid 20s for most of the area with near freezing temperatures reaching all the way to the barrier islands. Hard Freeze Warnings are in effect for counties north and west of Harris County. Winds will be gusting to 25mph Thursday evening through Friday morning leading to wind chill values down into the single digits north of Brenham with teens everywhere else. A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect for most areas but the immediate coast. A Wind Advisory is also in effect along the Matagorda coastline through tonight. Temperature conditions will be similar Friday night, though wind chill values may be around five degrees warmer as the winds weaken. Remember the four Ps of cold weather safety: People, Plants, Pets, Pipes.
Marine
The cold front has cleared out the fog threat. Strong northerly winds of 30 to 40kts across Matagorda Bay and the Gulf Waters will develop this morning, so a Gale Warning is in effect. Winds of 15-25kts with gusts to 30kts is expected for Galveston Bay, so a Small Craft Advisory is in e. The offshore winds will bring tide levels down to around 0.5ft below MLLW Thursday and Friday night. The winds will make bay waters rough with Gulf seas climbing to 8 to 13ft. Conditions will slowly improve Friday into Saturday as high pressure settles in over the region.
Resources
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact the National Weather Service office at the phone numbers listed in the Resources section above.