Though the City of Houston declined to open warming centers during this week's cold snap, several nonprofits are offering resources for Houstonians in need. The big picture: Overnight temperatures must reach 24 degrees (or 15 degrees with a wind chill) for at least two hours for the city to open the centers,

Several shelters and warming centers are open in the Houston area Tuesday and Wednesday as a winter storm continues to bring freezing temperatures to Texas.

The city only opens warming centers when temperatures dip to 24 degrees for at least two hours. Instead, the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland has been coordinating with private facilities.

Local leaders answer the question about why there are no warming center open in the local area as Arctic air settles over Houston. CW39's Seth Kovar is also looking at local temperatures with Chief meteorologist Jonathan Novack.

As frigid temperatures descend upon Houston, city officials and residents are taking precautions to protect themselves from the cold, including potential power outages and hypothermia.

Houston weather forecast for Tuesday, January 7, including the latest on the winter storm and a look ahead at Dallas snow chances and heavy rain in Houston.