Extreme Cold Warning Grips Texas Today: Austin, Houston, and DFW Face Icy Roads, ERCOT Weather Watch, and Travel Risks

Texas weather remains locked in a dangerous deep-freeze today, Tuesday, January 27, 2026, with an Extreme Cold Warning still active across large parts of the state. Even where the sky is sunny, the risk isn’t just the temperature—it’s what the cold does to roads, pipes, and the power grid. As Texans check current weather, temperature, and weather near me, the biggest practical questions are immediate: is it safe to drive today, what are Texas road conditions, and how long will this last in weather Austin, Houston weather, and DFW weather?

Extreme Cold Warning vs “watch”: what the alerts mean right now

An Extreme Cold Warning is the higher-impact alert—issued when cold and wind chills can quickly become dangerous for people, pets, and unprotected pipes. A “watch” is typically earlier notice that conditions may become hazardous.

Today’s reality across the major metros:

• Austin TX weather: Extreme Cold Warning continues into Tuesday morning, with very cold air lingering even as daytime temperatures begin to recover.

• Dallas Texas weather / Fort Worth weather (DFW weather): Extreme Cold Warning continues into Tuesday morning, with wind chills capable of dropping below zero.

• Weather Houston / Houston weather forecast: Extreme Cold Warning persists longer in parts of the region, with hard-freeze impacts and overnight refreeze still a concern.

At the same time, ERCOT has been operating under a Weather Watch window during this cold stretch—meaning heightened monitoring for demand and reserves as temperatures stay unusually low.

Texas road conditions: is it safe to drive today?

For many areas, the safest answer is: only drive if you truly have to—especially this morning.

Even when roads look “fine,” refreeze creates hidden slick spots:

• Bridges, overpasses, ramps, and shaded lanes ice first and thaw last.

• Black ice can form where melting happened yesterday afternoon and temperatures dropped overnight.

• “Wet-looking” pavement can actually be a thin glaze.

Central Texas has been particularly tricky. In the Austin area, elevated highways and hillier routes have held onto ice longer than drivers expect.

If you’re deciding whether it’s safe to drive today, use this quick checklist:

• If you can delay until late morning or afternoon, do it.

• If you must go, keep speeds low, increase following distance, and avoid sudden braking.

• Treat any non-functioning traffic light as a four-way stop.

• Assume the first and last mile of your trip is the iciest (neighborhood streets, parking lots, side roads).

For TxDOT road conditions and road conditions near me, the most reliable approach is to check the state’s live road condition and closure tools, then compare that to what you see outside your door. If either says “ice,” treat it seriously.

Weather Austin: warmer afternoons, but refreeze remains the danger

The Austin news focus today is the transition: precipitation is largely done, but the cold keeps hazards in place.

Austin (today and next two days):

• Today (Tue): High near 51°F, low near 27°F

• Wed: High near 54°F, low near 34°F

That looks like improvement, but the key is timing: roads can stay dangerous early even if the afternoon feels “fine.”

DFW weather: bitter wind chills, then freezing fog risk

In North Texas, the cold is more punishing and longer-lived. Even with sunshine, wind chills can remain hazardous early.

Dallas / Fort Worth (today and next two days):

• Today (Tue): High around 40–41°F, low around 25–26°F

• Wed: High around 40–42°F, lows around 31–32°F

• Watch item: areas of freezing fog are possible Wednesday morning, which can reduce visibility and add localized slick spots.

If you’re commuting across the Metroplex, assume overpasses and elevated interchanges may stay slick longer than surface streets.

Houston weather forecast: hard-freeze impacts linger even as highs rebound

Houston is warming faster in the afternoons than North Texas, but the morning freeze is still the problem—especially for any leftover wet patches.

Houston (today and next two days):

• Today (Tue): High near 50°F, low near 34°F

• Wed: High near 57°F, low near 39°F

Travel improves as daytime temperatures climb, but early hours remain a “use caution” window—particularly on bridges and less-traveled roads.

ERCOT: Weather Watch, demand peaks, and ERCOT Texas power outages

ERCOT’s posture during this cold snap has centered on stability while demand surges. The system can look “fine” and still be tight during peak heating hours, especially early morning. The best help most households can offer is simple: reduce usage during peak times when possible (space heaters, large appliances, and unnecessary loads).

On the outage side, ERCOT Texas power outages have been mostly localized and weather-related—ice on lines, falling limbs, and equipment issues—rather than a single statewide failure. In the Houston area, outages have remained comparatively limited and have fluctuated as crews restore service.

In Central Texas, the Austin Energy outage map has been the go-to tool for tracking neighborhood-level interruptions and estimated restoration timing, especially where ice and cold slow repairs.

What to watch next

Even as Texas weather improves, the next 24 hours still carry two major risks:

1. Morning refreeze: the biggest driver of crashes and slips.

2. Pipe and heater hazards: protect pipes, use heaters safely, and never run combustion devices indoors.

If you’re checking weather now, focus less on the afternoon high and more on the next overnight low—and plan travel and errands around the warmest part of the day.