A meteorologist for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas is cautioning the state’s power grid operator that it may need to brace for a prolonged cold stretch this winter.
Meteorologist Chris Coleman told ERCOT that weather patterns show conditions that could support a storm of the magnitude of Winter Storm Uri.
"There is a greater than average possibility for cold extreme this winter," he said. I don't have a number to put on it, but I kind of would call this similar to a Tornado Watch. We'll call this a cold extreme watch."
Uri brought days of freezing temperatures, widespread power outages, and left millions of Texans without heat, resulting in nearly 250 deaths.
ERCOT officials expressed confidence in the grid’s ability to withstand a major storm this time around, citing extensive weatherization efforts and an increase in electric providers.
In the aftermath of Uri, the state implemented measures to improve grid reliability, including mandatory winterization of power facilities and additional oversight of the grid’s operations.