Texas says its power grid is strong. It's about to be tested.

Experts said the coming cold wouldn't last as long as 2021's freeze, but could resemble the 2022 conditions known as Winter storm Elliot. Snow and ice were not expected to have a major impact on the state next week, officials said. Temperatures in Amarillo and the teens in Austin and Dallas are forecast to reach lows in the single digits overnight.

The arrival of a third strong winter storm in four years is unusual. If temperatures in Houston fall as low as they did at one point last winter, into the teens, it would be the first time in decades the city has experienced such frequent bouts of extreme cold, state climatologist John Nielsen said. Gammon. At the same time, he added, the state has generally seen an upward trend in the coldest temperature of the year.

Officials have projected confidence. “ERCOT expects to have sufficient supply to meet demand as cold weather hits the state next week,” said Ellie Breed, spokeswoman for the state Utilities Commission.

Still, the Texans have prepared. Mark Marrow, 52, a landscaper in Houston, went to a Home Depot early Thursday to buy supplies. “I did my aunt's house. I've done some clients' houses,” he said. “The problem is that there are so many people who are not from here, so they don't know how to prepare.”

During the winter weather of 2021, Mr Milton, the food truck owner, said he was able to continue serving despite the grid outages.

“It's almost embarrassing to say it was good for business, but honestly, it was,” says 41-year-old Milton. He said he was ready for something similar next week, just in case. “I am not dependent on the energy company for my gas, so I can always rock 'n' roll.”