An unusual winter storm has blanketed Houston and much of Southeast Texas in a fresh coat of snow and sleet. How long will it be until roads are safe?

Houston was blanketed with layers of snow the morning of Jan. 21, pausing city services as residents and officials braced for icy roads, frozen, broken pipes and power outages, reminiscent of 2021 Winter Storm Uri.

Forecasters warned that prolonged exposure to dangerously cold weather that produces especially low wind chill values can lead to hypothermia.

Around 40 million people in the U.S. are under a winter storm warning from an unusual blast of severe cold weather and snow across the South.

Following unusually cold temperatures, Houston is expected to get rainfall in the coming days, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Houston residents have been braving colder-than-average conditions in recent weeks because of a broad weather pattern bringing rare winter weather to parts of the South.

Scattered storms could begin on Wednesday and will reach their peak by Thursday afternoon. A few could be severe with the potential for hail and gusty winds. FOX 26 Chief Meteorologist Mike Iscovitz has the forecast.

Today looks very similar to yesterday with clouds, temps stuck in the 50s and low 60s with spotty light drizzles. We'll get noticeably warmer tomorrow as a more humid south breeze returns - that will set the stage for scattered storms that could begin on Wednesday and will reach their peak by Thursday afternoon.