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ERCOT prepping for winter electric demand

The grid operator has been closely watched since mass outages in 2021.

News

Where to go for the holidays in downtown Houston

Downtown transforms into a winter wonderland until Dec. 31.

Things to Do

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's vice-presidential chances

A prolific fundraiser, the border governor is a Trump loyalist.

Politics

Texas kids losing Medicaid insurance in overwhelmed system

Lapsed coverage means kids miss emergency medical care.

When to expect the first frost in Houston

We're still likely several weeks from the season's first frost.

Climate

It&#x27;s getting cooler, but we&#x27;re still likely several weeks away from the season&#x27;s first frost.The big picture: Median first fall frosts can be as early as July and as late as January, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Midwestern Regional Climate Center" data-vars-click-url="https://mrcc.purdue.edu/VIP/frz_maps/freeze_maps#frzMaps" data-vars-content-id="a42c19fa-7d07-4fbf-b40f-de43d6af293d" data-vars-headline="When to expect the first frost in Houston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mrcc.purdue.edu/VIP/frz_maps/freeze_maps#frzMaps" target="_blank">Midwestern Regional Climate Center</a>.

Strong Houston-area cold front brings temperatures in the 40s

The cold front that swept through the Bayou City late Sunday ushered in temperatures in the 40s across Houston.

The very noticeable change in weather across Southeast Texas will stick around for a few days before temperatures warm up again.Driving the news: The cold front that swept through the Bayou City late Sunday ushered in temperatures in the 40s across Houston.<ul><li>Tuesday&#x27;s high is predicted to reach the upper 50s, with clouds clearing throughout the day. Overnight lows will be in the low 40s in Houston.</li></ul>The latest: While Wednesday&#x27;s high will be higher than the two previous days&#x27;, the overnight low will be the coldest it&#x27;s been this season — with temperatures expected to reach near freezing in Greater Houston&#x27;s northernmost communities.<ul><li>National Weather Service meteorologists could put out a freeze watch, which is typically issued during the area&#x27;s first freeze.</li></ul>What they&#x27;re saying: &quot;The cold weather gets colder on Wednesday,&quot; NWS meteorologist Jimmy Fowler wrote in a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="forecast note" data-vars-click-url="https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=HGX&amp;product=AFD&amp;issuedby=HGX" data-vars-content-id="5d7afb43-4766-4003-b659-028507039ea8" data-vars-headline="Strong Houston-area cold front brings temperatures in the 40s" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=HGX&amp;product=AFD&amp;issuedby=HGX" target="_blank">forecast note</a>. &quot;Other than the Houston metro and along the immediate coast, most of the area will be flirting with freezing.&quot;What&#x27;s next: Temperatures will climb to the 70s and 80s this weekend.Zoom out: This year&#x27;s strong El Niño means there are higher than average odds for unusually mild temperatures this winter across much of the Lower 48 states, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios&#x27; Andrew Freedman reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/19/turbulent-el-nino-winter-east-coast-snow" data-vars-content-id="5d7afb43-4766-4003-b659-028507039ea8" data-vars-headline="Strong Houston-area cold front brings temperatures in the 40s" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/19/turbulent-el-nino-winter-east-coast-snow" target="_self">Axios&#x27; Andrew Freedman reports</a>.The bottom line: Wear your sweaters while you can.

Illustration of a cold emoji chattering its teeth.

Houston selected for hydrogen hub, to get $1.2 billion in federal money

The HyVelocity Gulf Coast hub is expected to be one of the largest.

Houston was selected as one of the seven clean hydrogen hubs and will receive up to $1.2 billion in federal funding.Driving the news: The Department of Energy unveiled plans to provide $7 billion to spur seven regional hubs for producing climate-friendly hydrogen, and the HyVelocity Gulf Coast hub is expected to be one of the largest.

Illustration of hydrogen molecules surrounded by dollar elements and abstract shapes

Climate change made Houston's summer hotter

69% of the summer had hot temperatures worsened by climate change

Texas&#x27; record-breaking heat this summer would have been &quot;virtually impossible without human-caused climate change,&quot; per recent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="climate analyses" data-vars-click-url="https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/extreme-heat-in-north-america-europe-and-china-in-july-2023-made-much-more-likely-by-climate-change/" data-vars-content-id="cdc938f9-dfa9-4e7e-9fee-427584992403" data-vars-headline="Climate change made Houston&#x27;s summer hotter" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/extreme-heat-in-north-america-europe-and-china-in-july-2023-made-much-more-likely-by-climate-change/" target="_blank">climate analyses</a>.Driving the news: The Houston area experienced 63 days — 69% of the summer — with hot temperatures made three times more likely by climate change, according to a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Climate Central report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/us-summer-2023-in-review" data-vars-content-id="cdc938f9-dfa9-4e7e-9fee-427584992403" data-vars-headline="Climate change made Houston&#x27;s summer hotter" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/us-summer-2023-in-review" target="_blank">Climate Central report</a>.

Hermann Park's trees are showing signs of heat, drought stress

Leaves are wilting, roots are drying out and the ground around the trees is cracking.

Hermann Park&#x27;s trees are showing signs of stress, and the park&#x27;s conservancy is raising funds to help care for them during the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/07/13/extreme-heat-wave-july-houston" data-vars-content-id="ebe495eb-5533-4a3b-be7f-e74bcbe0a734" data-vars-headline="Hermann Park&#x27;s trees are showing signs of heat, drought stress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/07/13/extreme-heat-wave-july-houston" target="_self">heat</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="drought" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/08/25/drought-houston-water-restrictions" data-vars-content-id="ebe495eb-5533-4a3b-be7f-e74bcbe0a734" data-vars-headline="Hermann Park&#x27;s trees are showing signs of heat, drought stress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/08/25/drought-houston-water-restrictions" target="_self">drought</a> and get more people involved.Context: Doreen Stoller, president of Hermann Park Conservancy, says she hasn&#x27;t seen the trees this stressed since the 2011 drought. The leaves are wilting, the roots are drying out and the ground around the trees is cracking.

Illustration of a floatation device lifesaver wrapped around a tree

Purple martins leave Houston early

The purple martins that stopped by Houston this year encountered some challenges.

The purple martins that stopped by Houston this year have encountered several challenges, including the need to relocate and an early migration down to South America.Background: More than 200,000 purple martins gather in a spot near Willowbrook Mall on the same row of trees from late August to early October every year.

Examining Greater Houston's heat islands

Heat islands can make cities less livable.

About 73% of Houston-area residents live in an area where the &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="urban heat island" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/21/cities-urban-heat-islands-heat-wave-roads-surfaces" data-vars-content-id="1ee79746-fe97-46ec-a49d-b1d37631e321" data-vars-headline="Examining Greater Houston&#x27;s heat islands" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/21/cities-urban-heat-islands-heat-wave-roads-surfaces" target="_self">urban heat island</a>&quot; effect raises temperatures by 8° or more, per a new analysis by nonprofit climate research group Climate Central, Axios&#x27; Alex Fitzpatrick reports.Driving the news: The analysis comes as Harris County records its ninth heat-related death since the beginning of the year, all of which happened since the start of this summer&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="detrimental heat waves" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/08/02/heat-record-houston-july" data-vars-content-id="1ee79746-fe97-46ec-a49d-b1d37631e321" data-vars-headline="Examining Greater Houston&#x27;s heat islands" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/08/02/heat-record-houston-july" target="_self">detrimental heat waves</a>.

Illustration of a man leaning against a traffic post on a sidewalk with a light beaming down

Houston region records third heat death

Intense heat can quickly turn deadly for vulnerable residents.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The intense heat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/07/13/extreme-heat-wave-july-houston" data-vars-content-id="abe69da1-f7bb-4736-bcc6-a9f548109c39" data-vars-headline="Houston region records third heat death" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/07/13/extreme-heat-wave-july-houston" target="_self">The intense heat</a> that continues to engulf Houston has the potential to cause anyone who spends too much time outside to be hospitalized — and it can quickly turn deadly for vulnerable residents.Driving the news: The Houston region recorded its third death related to heat exposure earlier this month.

Illustration of a fire graphic on a caution street sign.

Extreme heat wave continues in Houston

Temperatures are expected to remain in the high 90s.

Buckle up: We&#x27;re dealing with a heat wave that&#x27;s expected to last for quite a while.Why it matters: Hot days aren&#x27;t unusual in Texas, but they fit into a larger global trend of heat records set this summer.

Dangerous heat targets Houston this week

Thursday's high is currently projected to reach 101 degrees.

The heat is setting in this week in Houston.Driving the news: Thursday&#x27;s high is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="currently projected" data-vars-click-url="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-95.37153974609375&amp;lat=29.75614695619987#.Wmutf66nFhE" data-vars-content-id="e332b581-ed01-48c6-9b1c-082d1e2f5efc" data-vars-headline="Dangerous heat targets Houston this week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-95.37153974609375&amp;lat=29.75614695619987#.Wmutf66nFhE" target="_blank">currently projected</a> to reach 100 degrees, with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heat indices" data-vars-click-url="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?w0=t&amp;w1=td&amp;w2=hi&amp;w3=sfcwind&amp;w3u=1&amp;w4=sky&amp;w5=pop&amp;w6=rh&amp;w7=rain&amp;w8=thunder&amp;w10u=0&amp;w12u=1&amp;w13u=1&amp;AheadHour=0&amp;FcstType=graphical&amp;textField1=29.7561&amp;textField2=-95.3715&amp;site=all&amp;unit=0&amp;dd=&amp;bw=&amp;AheadDay.x=55&amp;AheadDay.y=8" data-vars-content-id="e332b581-ed01-48c6-9b1c-082d1e2f5efc" data-vars-headline="Dangerous heat targets Houston this week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?w0=t&amp;w1=td&amp;w2=hi&amp;w3=sfcwind&amp;w3u=1&amp;w4=sky&amp;w5=pop&amp;w6=rh&amp;w7=rain&amp;w8=thunder&amp;w10u=0&amp;w12u=1&amp;w13u=1&amp;AheadHour=0&amp;FcstType=graphical&amp;textField1=29.7561&amp;textField2=-95.3715&amp;site=all&amp;unit=0&amp;dd=&amp;bw=&amp;AheadDay.x=55&amp;AheadDay.y=8" target="_blank">heat indices</a> (or &quot;feels like&quot; temperatures, when factoring in humidity) near 110 degrees.

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