League City is monitoring the weather forecast for the next few days, which includes freezing temperatures, wind chill, precipitation, and even the chance of snow. Monday and Tuesday are the most likely days we could see a hard freeze and icy conditions in our area. City staff members are preparing our City facilities for the artic blast, and we are also asking assistance from our residents to keep our roadways, cars, and homes safe and free of damage.
Despite the threat of cold weather, the plan is for all League City facilities and offices to be open on Monday, February 15 for normal business hours and services. If something should change, we will post to the City’s website and Facebook page.
Roadways: League City’s Traffic and Streets Department works closely with TxDOT, which pre-treats roadways and bridges before a freeze and continues to treat them during a freeze event. TxDOT prioritizes roadways based on a tier system, with I-45 in the top tier for our area, and other state roadways, such as SH 96, further down in the tier system. League City works with TxDOT, as well as with other local agencies, to treat the City’s local roadways.
Tips for Residents:
- During a freezing rain event, residents are asked to stay off all roadways. If you must drive, drop below the speed limit, keep three times the typical distance away from another vehicle, and be cautious on overpasses, ramps, and bridges. If your vehicle begins to slide, TxDOT recommends easing off the gas pedal or brakes and steering into the direction of the skid until you regain control.
- If League City or TxDOT closes a roadway, residents are asked to avoid that area. The WAZE app is a good way to determine what League City roads are impacted as is the website www.drivetexas.org
- Colder temperatures can affect your vehicle’s tire pressure. For every 10 degrees of temperature drop, tires can drop one to two pounds of pressure. Be sure to check the pressure and add air when needed.
- To keep ice from forming on local streets, citizens are asked to turn off their automated sprinklers and to turn off and empty the drainage valve. This includes businesses, homeowner associations, and residential homes.
Water: Staff will be monitoring the City’s water distribution facilities and wastewater plants 24/7 over the weekend and into next week. All exposed pipes have been drained and wrapped, and all components and instrumentation that could be impacted by the low temperatures have been wrapped as well. To report a broken water line call, 281-554-1390.
Tips for residents:
- Drain and wrap all exposed pipes located outside or in unheated areas of your home.
- Remove garden hoses from outside faucets and insulate faucets with foam cover, rags, towels, or duct tape.
- Know where your home shut-off/isolation valve is located and how to use it. The valve is usually located adjacent to the water meter and near the first spicket, usually on the side of the home or near the garage.
- Drain the back-flow device of your automated sprinkler system.
- Do a controlled drip from internal household plumbing fixtures to reduce the risk of pipes freezing and a very slow drip on outside faucets. This is not necessary unless temperatures are 28 degrees or below for at least 4 hours. Be sure to turn off the faucets after the threat of freezing weather.
- If you experience a broken pipe and are unable to shut off the isolation valve, call the City for assistance at 281-554-1390.
Fire: The League City Fire Department and Fire Marshal’s Office wants to remind residents of the dangers of space heaters.
Tips for residents:
- Don’t operate too close to a combustible material. Heaters need three feet of space around them while in use.
- Don’t leave unattended.
- Use the right size. You should have 10 watts of power for every square foot of area.
- Don’t run non-stop. You could overheat the wiring or circuit.
- Don’t ignore bad, broken, or frayed cords.
- Don’t place the heater near where pets and people walk.
Pets: League City Animal Care is advising residents to bring all pets indoors during the upcoming cold weather. If pets must remain outdoors, they should be provided with some sort of covered shelter and numerous blankets.
Plants: League City Arborist Heather McKnight offers these tips for protecting plants from the cold weather
Tips for Residents
- Bring potted plants inside.
- Water the ground surrounding the plant late in afternoon before a freeze and add mulch to keep the soil moist and insulated.
- Cover up individual plants with a sheet, towel, blanket, or tarp (avoid plastic coverings) and weigh down with rocks to keep the plant insulated and to prevent cold air from blowing inside.
- Remove the cover in the morning and reapply the next night if needed. Never leave covers on during the day.
- Don’t remove any freeze damage on the plant until the danger of last frost, which is usually around mid-March.