Houstonians woke up to a slate of cancellations this Martin Luther King Jr. Day as freezing rain brought an unexpected chill to region's typically temperate winter, as per reports from the Houston Chronicle. The blustery day saw local parades in honor of the Civil Rights leader axed, with the cold snap proving to be an undiscriminating arbiter in disrupting the day's reverent observances.
Weather advisories painted a pensive backdrop for the South East Texas area, including Harris County, though some reprieve is expected as forecasters at the National Weather Service suggest that by midday, the city should begin thawing slightly with temperatures crawling back up to the mid-30s, the daytime forecast had originally anticipated "little or no ice accumulation expected."
Even as the mercury is set to rise above freezing, that's no solace, the day is expected to remain dreary, plagued by a persistent cold and "miserable kind of drizzle or rain," as described by the Houston Chronicle. The frigid temperatures necessitate layers for those still braving MLK Day events or the treacherous roads, while the wind chill is projected to loiter in the sub-freezing domain through the afternoon.
Looking ahead, a momentary warm-up is foretold before a nosedive back into chilling temperatures, the National Weather Service's detailed forecast admits a sunnier Tuesday lies in wait, alas, don't hold your breath for long—post haste, seems the cold front will return with a vengeance by the week's end after a brief flirtation with the mid-60s on Thursday, a Storm Prediction Center outlook assures us no severe thunderstorms will mar the area on Tuesday, so small mercies there.
For those looking to navigate this tumultuous weather, it may be of comfort that while the weather gods giveth and taketh, they are looking somewhat favorably upon the weekend, with the National Weather Service forecasting a sunny Saturday and a palpable rise in temperatures by Sunday, leaving Houstonians hoping for a break in the clouds and perhaps, a return to normalcy after an icy holiday disruption.
