Houston is in for a dramatic weather shift this week, starting with rain today before temperatures plunge and a rare ice threat develops by the weekend.

As winter weather confidence grows, some Houston-area school districts are canceling or postponing weekend events to reduce travel risks. HOUSTON — As confidence increases that southeast Texas could see dangerous winter weather this weekend, some school districts are beginning to cancel or postpone events to reduce travel and keep families safe.

The National Weather Service's Houston area office forecasts southeast Texas could be hit by dangerously cold temperatures, with potentially life-threatening wind chills. Officials are opening warming shelters and pre-treating roads for ice.

Houston benefits from a dose of rain Wednesday ahead of a powerful arctic front that could deliver a dangerous wintry mix of freezing rain and ice.

Impacts on Houston will be felt this weekend with cold rain and possible ice pellets, freezing rain or areas of wet snow.

Pictures and videos on social media are going viral as they show grocery stores with lower supplies ahead of the winter storm.

Freezing rain, not snow, could pose the biggest risk for Houston as arctic air moves in this weekend. See timing, model trends and what to expect.

Grocery stores across the Houston area are seeing an increase in shoppers as colder weather moves in and people prepare to stay home over the coming days. Inside a Kroger on Buffalo Speedway, carts were filling up quickly with what store managers say are essential items — but they stress there’s no need to panic buy.