An Arctic blast will bring bitter cold to Southeast Texas this week. Why it matters: The weather has prompted an extreme cold watch from the National Weather Service on Thursday morning for much of Greater Houston.

Houston officials plan to open 12 warming centers ahead of this week’s cold blast, a spokesperson for the city’s Office of Emergency Management confirmed Tuesday afternoon. Mayor John Whitmire plans to share more about the warming centers at a 5 p.

More than a dozen warming centers are opening across the city. Mental health case workers will be stationed at the Fonde and Metropolitan warming centers Wednesday. The Northeast Multi-Service Center will be designated primarily for families,