A blast of arctic air is barreling toward Texas, raising the risk of snow, ice and freezing rain this weekend and prompting Gov. Greg Abbott to activate state emergency response resources.

Why it matters: Even modest ice accumulation can make roads dangerous, disrupt travel and strain the power grid — sensitivities that remain high in Texas nearly five years after the 2021 winter storm.

Zoom in: The National Weather Service is warning North Texans of "dangerous" weather this weekend, with a wintry mix expected tomorrow night through Saturday and lows expected to dip into the single digits.

• Tomorrow is forecasted to start with cold rain, transitioning to sleet heading into Saturday. Some snowfall could be possible late Saturday.
• An extreme cold watch is also in effect 6pm Saturday-12pm Monday, with lows forecasted near 9 degrees.

State of play: The state's power grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, expects there will be enough power to meet this weekend's demand.

• Meanwhile, the Texas Department of Transportation has started treating roads with brine solution.
• And, some airlines are allowing customers with existing bookings to reschedule their travel for free.

Between the lines: This cold snap is not expected to be as frigid as the winter storm of 2021, which left millions of Texans without power for days. At least 200 deaths have been attributed to the freeze.

Zoom out: Nearly 40 million Americans were under a winter storm watch yesterday morning. The number will likely climb heading into the weekend.

• Some areas that don't usually see huge snowfalls could get walloped, with some of the latest model runs calling for over a foot of snow in parts of Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas.

Remember the four Ps — people, pets, property and plants — when preparing for a winter storm.

The big picture: Several meteorologists are advising North Texans to take the forecasted winter storm seriously. Maybe it will all be fine, but it doesn't hurt to prepare.

Before the storm

📱 Stay informed. Sign up for local emergency alerts. You can also download your preferred TV station's smartphone app in case you lose power at home.

🚘 Prepare your car. Keep jumper cables, phone chargers, spare jackets and an ice scraper in your car.

🔋 Prepare your home. Assemble a storm preparation kit with flashlights, fresh batteries, blankets, snacks and a gallon of water per person and per pet for seven days.

• Keep your electronics charged throughout the weekend.

🚰 Protect your pipes. Insulate exposed pipes, especially in attics and garages, and wrap outside faucets with a towel or a styrofoam insulator. Whataburger cups can help with this, too.

• Locate your water shutoff valve and keep it clear of debris and obstacles.

🪴 Move your plants. Even if you temporarily put potted plants in an unheated garage, they'll have a higher chance of survival.

More safety tips

Eight North Texas businesses are semifinalists for a James Beard Award this year.

Why it matters: North Texas hasn't won a James Beard in years but has had eight semifinalists two years in a row.

• Several North Texas cities made this year's list, except for Fort Worth.

What's next: The finalists will be announced in March and the winners will be recognized at a ceremony in Chicago in June.

Our semifinalists...

Places

• Far-Out: The Fair Park restaurant and bar, which reminded us of the West Texas desert, is a semifinalist for best new restaurant.
• Starship Bagel, which was a finalist last year, is again in the running for outstanding bakery this year.
• Ayahuasca Cantina, which made this Esquire list of the best bars in the country, is a contender for outstanding bar.

People

• Bib Gourmand recipient Lucia is once again a James Beard semifinalist, but for its desserts. Maggie Huff is in the running for outstanding pastry chef or baker.
• Gabe Sanchez of Midnight Rambler is a semifinalist for outstanding professional in cocktail service. The bar is tucked in the Joule's basement with a full TV guide of punny cocktail titles.
• Scott Girling of Denton's Osteria Il Muro, Patrick Hicks of Arlington's Smoke'N Ash BBQ and Masayuki Otaka of Dallas' Mābo are all in the running for best chef in Texas.

🏀 The Dallas Wings will play three games, including an August matchup against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, at American Airlines Center next season. (DMN)

💰 A Lewisville woman will appear on "Jeopardy!" today, competing in the show's Tournament of Champions. (CultureMap)

🥩 Heim BBQ is closing its flagship store in Fort Worth to open a lower-cost concept. (WFAA)

NASA's latest Moon mission has room for one more thing: your name.

Why it matters: While largely symbolic, it would be the first time your name leaves this little place we call Earth and heads into space.

State of play: NASA is inviting the public to sign up to add their names on an SD card aboard Orion, the spacecraft slated to orbit the Moon during the Artemis II mission in the near future.

How it works: Sign up here. (It's free.)

• And voilà, NASA generates a digital boarding pass with your name.

The big picture: Artemis II is another step in returning humans to the Moon. The program is also laying the groundwork for longer human exploration, including eventual trips to Mars.

What's next: NASA moved the Artemis II rocket to the launch pad over the weekend and is preparing the rocket for the wet dress rehearsal in the coming days.

• Artemis II is scheduled to launch by April 2026, carrying four astronauts — and millions of names — into lunar orbit.