2:45 p.m. update:  The city’ Office of Emergency Management released more information on the deaths of two individuals found in Harris County Wednesday morning.

First responders found an adult male in front of a church on Dixie Road. at 8:05 a.m. after being reported missing Jan. 18. A few hours later at 12:25 p.m., responders found a woman in a parking lot on Congress Street.

Officials are not releasing causes of death until the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences performs autopsies. They also did not release the names of the individuals.

2:00 p.m. update: Mayor John Whitmire complimented Houstonians on their safety measures during Winter Storm Enzo but encouraged them not to become “complacent” over the next 24 hours.

After almost three days of extreme cold, Whitmire announced at a press conference Wednesday that normal city and Metro operations will resume Thursday. Still, he cautioned residents to reduce speeds when driving as roads and bridges still have patches of ice.

The city had 12 nonfatal vehicular accidents Tuesday night into Wednesday morning from drivers passing through the city, Whitmire said. Overall, the results of the storm were minor in comparison to previous winter weather events.

At least two deaths occurred in the greater Harris County area during the storm. One man was believed to be unhoused, and Whitmire said the city had unsuccessfully tried to convince him to stay at one of the ten city-sponsored warming centers.

The warming centers will remain open Wednesday night. Whitmire said he anticipated at least two centers to remain open Thursday night.

12:30 p.m. update:  As snow and ice melt across Houston’s freeways, life as usual is slowly returning to Houston’s roadways.

Houston TranStar’s traffic cameras at 10:30 a.m. show more and more vehicles returning to the area’s freeways, and traffic beginning to stir on local roads. Roads continue to be a concern, however, as the agency’s website still has 57 locations marked with ice on roadways. Traffic remains slower than normal on some freeways throughout the Houston area.

Metro has resumed modified service for some local buses as of 10 a.m. today. The following routes are currently operational: 2, 8, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 44, 50, 52, 54, 56, 63, 65, 73, 80, 82, 85, 89 and 102.

The light rail has also resumed service on the Red and Green Line every 12 minutes. The Red Line is limited to the route between Fannin South and UH-Downtown, while the Green Line is running between Altic/Howard Hughes and Theater District. Metro’s alert for service also mentions that real-time arrival information is not accurate today, and riders should allow for extra time during their trips.

Houston is halfway through the worst effects of Winter Storm Enzo and has so far avoided severe damages, said Mayor John Whitmire Tuesday evening.

Winter Storm Enzo updates: Houston wakes up to a blanket of snow

Whitmire urged residents to keep sheltered in place for the next 24 hours.

“It’s halftime, we’ve got third and fourth quarters to go,” Whitmire said at a press conference.

The predominant risk will be the snow that melted Tuesday that will freeze on the roads overnight, Whitmire said. The city saw 22 nonlethal vehicular accidents Tuesday, and Whitmire thanked employers for closing their businesses which allowed workers to stay home.

The Houston Fire and Rescue Department has started transporting residents to warming systems for the first time. Almost 1,100 people have used the 10 city sponsored warming centers so far, with no reported deaths in Houston.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Department reported at least one death potentially due to cold exposure earlier in the day.

Other concerns, such as widespread power outages and water pressure loss, have not had the impact of previous storms. Centerpoint reported 73 outages affecting 1,385 customers as of 5:30 p.m., and Houston Public Works said the water system remained strong.

City offices and HISD schools will stay closed Wednesday, but the airports will open. TSA will start accepting passengers at 9 a.m., arrivals at 10 a.m. and departures will begin at 11 a.m.

“We’ve got to be very safe and smart from here on out,” Whitmire said. “If we follow precautions and the common sense we’ve used up to this point, we’re going to look back at this storm as a challenging experience where Houston met its challenge.”

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