Texas winter storm: Weather briefing from Gov. Abbott, state officials

AUSTIN, Texas - Gov. Greg Abbott and other Texas officials are providing an update on the state's response to severe winter weather.

The backstory:

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for North and Central Texas starting Friday afternoon and continuing through Sunday morning. 

North Texas winter storm

An Extreme Cold Watch will also be in effect from Saturday evening through Monday morning in North Texas where temperatures may not climb above freezing until Monday afternoon.

A full changeover to sleet and snow is expected across parts of North Texas late Saturday before the wintry weather ends Sunday, according to the NWS. Power outages are possible due to ice accumulating on trees and power lines.

Central Texas winter storm

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for counties in Central Texas beginning Jan. 24 at 12 a.m. and lasting through Jan. 26 at 12 p.m.

The Arctic air is still scheduled to push through starting late Friday night and temperatures will be freezing from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning.

Wind chills will drop into single digit territory by Sunday morning.

Houston winter storm

A winter storm watch and an Extreme Cold Watch have been issued for several Houston area counties ahead of the Arctic blast.

The winter storm watch is in effect from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon for counties including Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Walker, San Jacinto, Polk, Brazos, Washington, Grimes, Liberty, Colorado, Austin, Waller, Chambers, Wharton and Liberty.

Rain will change over to freezing rain/sleet as cold air arrives. Total ice accumulations between 1/10th and 3/10th of an inch are possible.

What's next:

Gov. Abbott is expected to receive a briefing about the state's storm preps and is scheduled to hold a press conference at around 10 a.m. (CT) to discuss the state's ongoing response to the severe winter weather.A

Abbott will be joined by a number of other state officials including Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Texas Department of Public Safety Colonel Freeman Martin, Adjutant General of Texas Major General Thomas Suelzer, Texas Department of Transportation Executive Director Marc Williams, Electric Reliability Council of Texas CEO Pablo Vegas and Public Utility Commission Chair Thomas Gleeson.