As an Arctic front chills much of the country and sweeps through Texas, Austin is preparing for its first freeze of 2024. Fortunately, current forecasts suggest that Texas won’t be ravaged by a long, devastating storm like Uri in 2021, which saw thousands without power and water for days.

CultureMap news partner KVUE’s team of meteorologists has determined that the Arctic cold front will arrive late Saturday night, with a hard freeze beginning Sunday, January 14. The team suggests having a care plan ready by Saturday afternoon.

"The most recent forecast model runs show temperatures struggling to make it above freezing on Monday afternoon," says KVUE's report. "There is a slight possibility our area will remain at or below freezing on Monday and Tuesday, with temperatures not returning above freezing until Wednesday afternoon. ... The National Weather Service has mentioned the potential for some parts of Central Texas remaining below freezing for over 60 hours."

Freeze-ready

Experience tells us to safeguard the four Ps: people, pets, pipes, plants. As Austin is a car town, getting the ride ready for the plunging temps is also crucial.

With that in mind, CultureMap enlisted some local experts to assist harried Texans prep for our sudden freeze. Some tips are elementary, some are refreshers, and all are helpful to prevent headaches later.

People

Clearly, residents are advised to stay indoors as much as possible.

Environmental conservation organization Sierra Club shared via its Lone Star Chapter on Instagram that locals should look up "your city name and 'nearby warming centers'" to be prepared for a power outage. Do this ahead of time in case your phone runs out of battery or you lose service. It also suggests reaching out to neighbors to learn who lost power in past years, share tips, and help each other prepare.

Also: Don't panic! Panic buying at grocery stores has been well-recorded over the years, but losing sight of what you really need makes things harder for others to get what they need. (How much milk and toilet paper can you really go through?)

Pets

Tragically, animals — especially dogs and cats — suffer brutally during extreme temps. “When the temperature drops, the absolute best thing you can do for your pet is to bring them inside — remember, dogs and cats can get frostbite and hypothermia just like humans,” Tena Lundquist Faust, co-president of Houston PetSet, tells CultureMap.

Tama Lundquist, co-president of Houston PetSet, reminds Houstonians who witness animal abuse or a dog cruelly chained or tethered outside in the elements to contact their law enforcement agency or file a report with a task force. In Austin, that would be the Austin Police Department’s Animal Cruelty Unit, reachable via 3-1-1.

“It is now required by law to provide adequate shelter that will protect dogs from the elements. If you see dogs left outside without shelter, please report it,” she says. “With the temperatures dropping, that call could save that dog’s life.”

Animal-loving Austinites can also leave cat or dog food — and water, after the freeze — outside for wandering strays who may need some nourishment. Consider donating to local shelters, rescues, and on-the-ground animal assistance groups as well.

CultureMap Dallas senior editor Teresa Gubbins adds these tips from the SPCA of Texas:

• Tap your hood. Warm engines attract cats and small animals, who nestle under the hood but can get seriously hurt if a car is running. Tap your hood before starting your car to scare them out.
• Check their paws. Check and wipe paws after walks to protect against harsh weather and salt after outdoor walks.
• Sweater weather. Consider a warm dry coat for your pet when outdoors.
• Watch for chemicals. Antifreeze is poisonous - keep it out of reach.
• Stay indoors. Keep potty breaks quick, and monitor your pet while outside.
• Be alert. Keep an eye out for signs of hypothermia such as shivering, whining, lethargy, decreased heart rate, and trouble walking or breathing.

Gubbins also has tips for helping wildlife, courtesy of The North Texas Wildlife Center:

• Put out fresh water in various size bowls, checking frequently to break it up if it freezes, or keep it from freezing with a heated bowl or heating device.
• Leaves, sticks, and straw provide nesting materials and shelter for wildlife to stay warm.
• Put out whole or shelled nuts for squirrels.
• Place birdseed in sheltered areas such as under bushes, carports, or umbrellas, to protect from harsh winds.
• Keep your cats and dogs indoors.

Wildlife may seek food at the warmest time of the day; Don't be surprised to see wild animals at odd times.

Plants

Those with a green thumb have no doubt tended to their floral family. For those who need a little help, Zach Buchanan, owner of Buchanan’s Native Plants in Houston, offers some tips — and encouragement — after the freeze ravages our planted flora.

“The top of the plant may die, but that doesn't mean the plant is necessarily dead,” says Buchanan, who adds that owners shouldn’t necessarily rip out plants that seem “brown and dead,” as they may regenerate in the spring.

A team member at East Austin Succulents demonstrates on Instagram how to keep those tips warm with plastic cups.

Adding incandescent lights under the blankets which will raise the temperatures on the ground and around the plant, Buchanan notes. Then, cover with frost cloth or blankets. He advises against plastic, as it can burn leaves, unless it’s on top of the blankets. “But it’s best just to avoid plastic,” he adds.

If time, Buchanan says mulching flower beds adds extra insulation for plants and helps guarantee a spring return.

Pipes

Master plumber and owner of All The Time Plumbing Thomas Moreno says that the No. 1 freeze prep for pipes is to turn off and drain the backflow preventer to the yard's sprinkler (if applicable). "All you really need is a flathead screwdriver to drain it and it will stop the plastic diaphragm from breaking," he tells us.

Moreno shares video tips below:

Cover pipes with insulation or old towels and and wrap with duct tape, and faucets with covers (found at any hardware store) or duct tape and towels.

Inside, open cabinets that house plumbing fixtures to allow hot air to get into cabinets and let faucets trickle if they face an outside wall on the other side.

Those who won't be home or are prepping additional homes or rentals should shut the water main off and drain all faucets.

Leaving and turning off the water? Don't forget to flush toilets to get all water out of the tanks. "During the 2021 freeze, a lot of toilet tanks froze because people weren't there," Moreno says, "but the tanks cracked. We must've replaced 50 toilet tanks."

Pools

Houston real estate expert Paige Martin enlisted Nabors Pools for some freeze tips.

Pools that have automation such as Pentair Easytouch, Hayward OmniLogic, or Jandy Aqualink, should have freeze protection already built into the system. If equipment is properly set up with functional censors — and electricity is running — no action is needed.

Check pools with timers and a variable speed pump with a display or control panel (located at the back of the pump) for freeze protection (if enabled).

For pools with timers and a single-speed pump without Wi-Fi control, app, remote, panel, or alternative control mechanisms, adjust the pump to run continuously during freezing temperatures to avoid damage.

Important reminder: Water temperature is more important than the air temperature. If water temperature is well above freezing, no action is needed. When in doubt, keep the water moving, circulating, and pumps running for safety.

In the event that the area loses electricity, turn off all breakers and drain the equipment — if it's safe. Those unsure of how to do this can watch this video.

Cars

Matt Burrage of Texas-German Autohaus reminds drivers to flush out water from their wipers and fill washer fluid — compatible for freezes — and run it for one minute.

Keep cars in garages if possible, and ensure that coolant systems have actual antifreeze and not just water. "Freezes make the water in those systems expand," says Burrage, the result is cracked parts that overheat when the car finally drives — and the car overheats.

Don't surprise to see low-tire warning after the freeze (cold air compresses air in tires.) Burrgage notes that local Discount Tire shops have seen 200 cars at a time in line for the tire pressure station. Owners of older cars should ensure batteries are tested and oil has been changed — preferably to synthetic.

Speaking of cold, cars, and animals: it's always smart to honk the horn or beat the hood to warn and critters in the car that have sought shelter.

"Nine years ago, a man called us and said he heard a cat meowing in his car," says Burrage. The man (for some reason) drove 25 minutes to Burrage, whose team extracted a kitten that had desperately clung to the transmission for warmth.

Thankfully, the story has a happy ending: A (rather annoyed) Burrage gave the cold, lonely, terrified kitten to a staffer, who adopted and named it — fittingly — Mercedes.

CultureMap will update this story with any breaking news.