San Antonio faces dangerously cold wind chills as arctic blast hits

• It's nice to know that February still has some juice left in it.

Driving the news: An arctic blast tied in part to the polar vortex is driving record-cold air south from the Northern Plains toward the Gulf Coast, lasting the entire week.

• The temperature Wednesday could drop to 21 degrees — approaching the record low of 19 degrees set on this day during the 2021 winter storm.

State of play: Officials at the state electric grid have issued a weather watch through Friday due to forecasted extreme cold weather, higher electrical demand, and the potential for lower reserves.

Yes, but: "Grid conditions are expected to be normal," officials report.

Zoom in: The City of San Antonio is providing 465 overnight shelter spaces for people experiencing homelessness, and daytime warming spaces for residents, spokesperson Luke Simons tells Axios.

• A hotline (210-207-1799) will be open 24/7 for shelter information, including transportation options.

Pro tip: If you still have string lights hanging around from the holidays, you can place them over the plants and under a cover to provide extra heat.

• Placing water jugs under a cover can also provide extra warmth, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

The bottom line: Cover your plants, care for your pipes and pets — and check on your neighbors.