Texas Cold Snap Hits—Experts Urge: Never Warm Up Your Car in the Garage

As a powerful cold wave sweeps across much of the United States, residents in Texas are stockpiling supplies and filling up their gas tanks to prepare for extreme weather. However, local social media influencer TayloringAustin issued an urgent warning on TikTok: never run your car to stay warm inside an enclosed space like a garage—even with the garage door open—as it remains extremely dangerous. Doing so can easily lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal. Commenters quickly added further advice: even when outdoors, ensure the exhaust pipe isn’t blocked by snow or debris, and periodically crack open windows for ventilation. The National Weather Service emphasized that if driving is absolutely necessary, people should clear all snow from their vehicles beforehand, carry an emergency kit, inform someone of their travel plans, and—should they become stranded—run the engine for only 10 minutes per hour to stay warm while keeping a window slightly open. The safest course of action, however, remains staying indoors and avoiding travel altogether.