A winter storm watch and an extreme cold watch have been issued for several Houston area counties ahead of an arctic blast that will plunge temperatures in Southeast Texas over the weekend. Here's what you need to know.

The chance of precipitation in Houston is high, at 90 percent during the day, dropping to about 60 percent in the evening. While precipitation along the immediate coast is anticipated to be liquid, northern and central portions of the bays could see freezing rain Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Will this weekend's winter storm be like the historic 2021 freeze? Here are the key differences you can expect.

Officials said the city will prioritize elevated roadways, bridges, and overpasses, which are more prone to ice accumulation. About 41 locations are part of the city’s standard winter weather response and will be pretreated roughly 24 hours before conditions deteriorate using brine solutions and sand.

"Parts of northern Houston, especially areas north of Highway 105, are going to feel the brunt of this freeze first," Lindner said. "Temperatures there could dip into the teens Sunday and Monday mornings, with sub-freezing conditions lasting well into Tuesday."

If you can’t stay home during the upcoming winter weather, steps are being taken to keep Houston’s roads safe.

An arctic cold front could bring Texas its coldest temperatures and the possibility of ice and snow this weekend.