The coming winter could see a higher risk of extreme cold temperatures similar to the February 2021 freeze, the devastating storm that caused prolonged outages across Texas and killed at least 200 people,

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) lead meteorologist told board members the pattern this winter appears more likely to support an extreme cold event.

ERCOT's meteorologist predicted a warmer winter for Texas, but the forecast also came with an elevated chance of extreme winter weather.

The grid operator says conditions this winter could spark an extreme freeze, but insists newly-added power supply will lower the risk of outages.

ERCOT says there is a chance for extreme winter weather similar to Winter Storm Uri that collapsed the power grid leading to millions without power in Texas.

Despite generally warmer winters, extreme cold events are becoming more common in Texas. Officials have strengthened the state power grid since 2021, but one energy expert says more needs to be done to minimize outage risks.

ERCOT says conditions this winter could spark extreme cold, but additional power supply and continued weatherization efforts will lower the risk of power outages.

That doesn’t mean we’re going to have Uri,” the grid operator’s meteorologist said, “but we’re in a pattern that supports something like a Uri.”

ERCOT's chief meteorologist Chris Coleman is predicting a chance of a period of extreme cold but overall a mild winter.

ERCOT's supervisor of operational forecasting said current climate patterns are very similar to those in 2021, when a winter storm knocked out power for millions.