AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says state leaders have been busy preparing for the Arctic blast headed our way.
In a news conference Friday, Abbott urged everyone to be aware of the "extraordinarily cold, cold weather system that will be sweeping across the entire state of Texas."
The Arctic freeze is expected to arrive in North Texas on Saturday and blow into Southeast Texas by Sunday. It will bring below freezing temperatures and could also include freezing rain, icy roads and strong wind.
The governor said protecting the lives of every Texan is the primary focus of state preparations.
"Point being, when we get to the time periods that are going to be the coldest, the recommendation would be, if at all possible, for you to stay in your home or other locations so you're not going outside exposing yourself to that cold temperature," Abbott said.
Houston and other Texas cities will open warming centers for people who don't have heat in their homes. A map showing the warming centers can be found here.
Abbott also addressed concerns about the grid holding up during the multi-day freeze and assured Texans that the power generators have been fully inspected and winterized.
"We feel very good about the status of the Texas power grid and ERCOT, too, to be able to effectively and successfully ensure that the power is going to stay on throughout the entirety of this winter storm episode," the governor said. "They have never been as prepared for a winter event as they are today, including having a secondary source of fuel available to make sure that they will not lose access to fuel."
ERCOT officials said Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning will be the tightest times for the power grid based on current forecasts but they're confident it will hold up to the challenge.
"There's not an expectation of an energy emergency, and we are not calling for conservation at this point in time," ERCOT CEO Pablo Vargas said. "Now things can change, and if it does change, we will continue to communicate openly over the course of this weekend."
Road conditions are another concern but Abbott said the latest forecast offers hope that icy roads won't be a widespread problem. The current models show Central and East Texas could see precipitation, according to Abbott, so drivers there should take extra precautions.
"Anybody who gets out on the road and drives in an area this cold that has any precipitation on it needs to understand that is a very dangerous situation. If you do not need to be on the road, don't go on the road for a day or two," Abbott advised.
He said TxDOT is prepared to treat highways where ice is expected.
WATCH: Full news conference
Precipitation that turns to ice can also cause tree branches to fall on power lines leading to localized outages. In those cases, you should contact your local provider.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a potentially deadly threat during cold weather.
- You should never run a generator inside your home.
- You should never run your car inside your garage with the garage door closed.
- And if you're going to have gas or wood-burning appliances inside the house, make sure that you have ventilation.
Lastly, remember to protect the four Ps: people, pets, pipes, and plants.