Good morning.
This is a look at our daily Express Briefing newsletter. Sign up for Express Briefing here. Subscribers get access to the full version of our Express Briefing newsletter, which includes exclusive insight and links to more of our best stories. To become a subscriber, take advantage of this special offer today.
Live Weather Updates: Blackouts, road closures, frigid temps and more
TOP STORIES
Even among San Antonians who’d heeded plumbers’ warnings — trickling faucets overnight to prevent pipes from freezing — the record-shattering cold meant that many residents still awoke to frozen pipes.
It was a first for many San Antonians: Low temperatures in the single digits, a blanket of ankle-deep snow, icy and impassable roads. Residents filled social media with rare photographs of snow covering trees, homes and cars — then flooded those same online forums with questions about plumbing problems that arose overnight.
Until the pipes thaw, many San Antonians currently without running water may have no way of knowing whether their pipes have cracked — and where the leaks may have occurred, said Dano Pagel, who’s worked as a plumber for 35 years. Read his money-saving tips here.
A powerful winter storm unlike anything seen in 31 years, when temperatures fell to 6 degrees in San Antonio, left a thick carpet of snow on top of a layer of ice across San Antonio and the Hill Country on Monday.
As bad as the storm was, even greater dangers loomed after dusk and into today, when the radiant heat of the sun no longer melts ice from roofs and roads and when temperatures nose-dive, turning slush into deadly ice.
San Antonians awakened Monday to see 3 to 6 inches of powdery snow and to feel bitter cold, that shattered record low temperatures not seen in the Alamo City since Dec. 22, 1989. Read more about the historic snow day and see more pictures here.
Wind Chill values are expected to range from -10 to around 5 degrees for Tuesday morning prompting a Wind Chill Warning. Another round of wintry precipitation is likely late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
For more on power and water outages, as well as an updated list of school and business closures, click here.
1of34
Hundreds of San Antonians stand in line to enter the H-E-B at West Avenue and Blanco Road at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, after snow and freezing temperatures caused the closing the the store chain and most businesses.
Billy Calzada
2of34
San Antonio snow Feb. 18, 2021.
Benjamin Lee Medeiros
3of34
CPS Energy crews were seen driving along Vance Jackson Road during another day of snow in San Antonio on Thursday, Feb 18, 2021. “This extreme weather event has caused unimaginable hardships,” SAWS President and CEO Robert R. Puente says of the arctic blast that left hundreds of thousands without power for hours at a time while also leading to burst pipes and other water supply problems.
Kin Man Hui /Staff photographer
4of34
Vehicles make their way Thursday along Nacogdoches Road near Loop 410 as snow returns to San Antonio.
William Luther /William Luther
5of34
People make their way on foot Thursday along slick roads in the Mahncke Park neighborhood as snow returns to San Antonio.
William Luther /William Luther
6of34
A fluffy snow began falling Thursday morning in San Antonio.
Randi Stevenson
7of34
Traffic on FM 78 is backed up Tuesday due to power outages cutting off traffic signals.
Jessica Phelps /San Antonio Express-News
8of34
Gas stations around San Antonio have closed as the city comes to a standstill due to cold weather and power outages.
Jessica Phelps, Staff photographer / San Antonio Express-News
9of34
A vehicle drives on I-10 westbound on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Several inches of snow fell in the city from Sunday, Feb. 14, starting in the evening through the early morning hours of Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. A few vehicles and people were out either to see the spectacle or to try to head to work.
Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer
10of34
George and Alissa Baugh keep warm under blankets in their home on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. They had no power as of Tuesday morning due to the effects of the cold and snow. They regained it in the afternoon. George Baugh said he had once thought of getting rid of his heavy coat, but is now glad that he didn’t.
Billy Calzada /Staff photographer
11of34
3- to 4-foot icicles outside of the regional National Weather Service office
Courtesy of NWS
12of34Paul Bordlemay shovels off snow from his driveway see he can eventually get into work on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Bordlemay is originally from Pennsylvania and wasn’t too phased by the snow but living in South Texas over the past decade, the wintery precipitation was still a bit of a surprise for him. Several inches of snow fell in the city from Sunday, Feb. 14, starting in the evening through the early morning hours of Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. A few vehicles and people were out either to see the spectacle or to try to head to work.Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer
13of34Hundreds of San Antonians stand in line to enter the H-E-B at West Avenue and Blanco Road at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, after snow and freezing temperatures caused the closing the the store chain and most businesses.Billy Calzada
14of34
Parts of San Antonio covered in snow as seen from aerial footage.
Courtesy of Bart S. Taylor
15of34
Saul Cortez shovels snow from the sidewalk in front of his home in the Harmony Hills neighborhood on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, after inches of snow fell Sunday night. He said that he is from New Jersey, where the snow that fell in San Antonio would be considered a mild annoyance.
Billy Calzada
16of34
Several vehicles have trouble navigating the intersection of Blanco and West Avenue on Monday morning, Feb. 15, 2021, after three to five inches of snow fell overnight in San Antonio.
Billy Calzada /Staff photographer
17of34
A lone person walks early Monday morning, Feb. 15, 2021 on a blanket of snow on Alamo Street towards Houston Street.
William Luther
18of34
The Alamo is seen early Monday morning, Feb. 15, 2021 behind a layer of snow. The National Weather Service reported Tuesday morning that San Antonio and surrounding areas saw 3-5 inches of snow and some pockets of the forecast area saw 6-7 inches of snow. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has also declared the highest level of energy emergency and is requiring rolling blackouts throughout Texas. The National Weather Service reports the areas temperatures are the coldest since 1989.
William Luther
19of34
Reagan Sparrow, 3, makes a snow castle, with a sand castle pail, as she plays in the snow with her parents and their dogs, Beau, center, and Cooper, outside their home in San Antonio on Feb. 15, 2021.
Lisa Krantz/Staff photographer
20of34David Smith (left) and Ceasar Figueroa-Herrera walk along Wurzbach Road on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. The area was without power and the two friends were hoping to buy a grill for which they could cook and warm their homes. Several inches of snow fell in the city from Sunday, Feb. 14, starting in the evening through the early morning hours of Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. A few vehicles and people were out either to see the spectacle or to try to head to work.Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer
21of34
Olivia Zapata, 15, in front, and her brother, Josiah, 18, play in the snow at the Heritage Duck Pond Park, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021.
Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News
22of34
A lone person walks early Monday morning, Feb. 15, 2021 on a snow-covered Houston Street in downtown San Antonio. The National Weather Service reported Tuesday morning San Antonio and surrounding areas saw 3-5 inches of snow and some pockets of the forecast area saw 6-7 inches of snow. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has also declared the highest level of energy emergency and is requiring rolling blackouts throughout Texas. The National Weather Service reports the areas temperatures are the coldest since 1989.
William Luther
23of34
Snow blankets the steps of the Hipolito F. Garcia Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on Houston Street in downtown San Antonio. The National Weather Service reported Tuesday morning San Antonio and surrounding areas saw 3-5 inches of snow and some pockets of the forecast area saw 6-7 inches of snow. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has also declared the highest level of energy emergency and is requiring rolling blackouts throughout Texas. The National Weather Service reports the areas temperatures are the coldest since 1989.
William Luther
24of34
Parts of San Antonio covered in snow as seen from aerial footage.
Courtesy of Bart S. Taylor
25of34
Umair Iqbal enjoys the snow, the most he has ever seen, early Monday morning, Feb. 15, 2021, in San Antonio.
Lisa Krantz/Staff photographer
26of34
Carmen Rodriguez, 12, attempts to make a snow person with her mother, Georgina Rodriguez, late Sunday night, Feb. 14, 2021, in San Antonio.
Lisa Krantz/Staff photographer
27of34
Daniell Sparrow puts Cooper, one of the family’s dogs, in the wagon with her daughter, Reagan Sparrow, 3, upon Reagan’s request for Cooper to ride with her, in San Antonio on Feb. 15, 2021. Cooper quickly jumped out of the wagon before the ride began.
Lisa Krantz/Staff photographer
28of34
Carmen Rodriguez, 12, from left, her sister, Georgina Rodriguez, 13, and Gaby Gonzales, 13, make snow angels in their neighbor’s driveway late Sunday night, Feb. 14, 2021, in San Antonio.
Lisa Krantz/Staff photographer
29of34
Nathanial Hernandez, 7, gets into a snowball fight with his family in the Heritage neighborhood, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021.
Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News
30of34
People wait in line to enter the H-E-B at West Avenue and Blanco Road as a brisk snow falls on Thursday morning.
Billy Calzada /Billy Calzada
31of34
Samuel Martinez, 8, rides his motor bike through the snow near the Hayes Street Bridge 15, 2021. Temperatures dropped to record lows Sunday night and will stay dangerously low Monday night as well.
Jessica Phelps/San Antonio Express-News
32of34
Amy Maltos, 18, walks her dog, Sora, in the Villages of Westcreek subdivision of far Northwest San Antonio, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. About 3 to 5 inches of snow fell in San Antonio, and more piled up in the Hill Country.
Jerry Lara /Staff photographer
33of34
Georgina Rodriguez and her daughter, Carmen Rodriguez, 12, walk to a neighbor’s home late Sunday night, Feb. 14, 2021, in San Antonio.
Lisa Krantz/Staff photographer
34of34
Figures on the Alamo Cenotaph are covered in snow early Monday morning, Feb. 15, 2021. The National Weather Service reported Tuesday morning that San Antonio and surrounding areas saw 3-5 inches of snow and some pockets of the forecast area saw 6-7 inches of snow. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has also declared the highest level of energy emergency and is requiring rolling blackouts throughout Texas. The National Weather Service reports the areas temperatures are the coldest since 1989.
William Luther
NEED TO KNOW
THE FUN STUFF
Michael Guerra and Tina Reck-Guerra’s 100-year-old Sears Craftsman bungalow has a lot going for it: history, beautiful wood detailing and old-world workmanship, all in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Government Hill a short walk from the Pearl. Check the home out.
In the kitchen: Your sponge has as much bacteria as your intestines. Paul’s Cooking Tips gives you the tips for cleaner, healthier sponges.
On the grill: Chuck Blount tests 6 charcoal brands to see which is the best: H-E-B, Kingsford, Jack Daniel’s, B&B, Royal Oak and Viva Pancho. There was one clear winner.
On the mic: The game has changed since Fabricio Oberto last played in the NBA, but he will enjoy describing it to you anyway. The former Spur has returned to San Antonio for his new gig as a color commentator for the Spurs G League affiliate in Austin.
On the pitch and on the court: Catch up on all the action from the past week in high school girls soccer, boys soccer, girls basketball and boys basketball.
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER NEWSLETTERS
SA Inc.: Get local business news updates from behind the scenes, delivered twice a week.
Texas Take: The latest in state, local and national politics, delivered every weekday morning.
Real Estate: Get a sneak peek of luxe San Antonio properties, local market trends and homebuying/selling tips.
Taste: Hungry for restaurant reviews and recipes? Get the free Taste newsletter, delivered twice a week.
Comments are closed.