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.

The Arctic blast has broken decades-old records across the country this week. On Thursday, low temperatures in Midland, Texas, reached 14 degrees, smashing the previous record of 19 degrees set in 1955. A day earlier, the city saw a daily record set in 1944 broken.

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, Houston Mayor John Whitmire said.