The big weather events are happening mainly across the eastern half of the U.S. Today is the coldest day of the week for the Southeast, while Texas deals with storms, snow, and wind taking over the Great Lakes. The Breakfast Brief is published every Monday through Friday at 5 a.m. ET.

A low-pressure system continues to move through Texas. Wednesday's rain and storms will be mainly focused on Southeast Texas and the I-45 corridor northward toward the DFW. Make sure to keep the LightningRadar handy. Storms will mainly affect Houston and its surroundings in the afternoon.

Across the Great Lakes, there will be another storm on the move. This one moves right over the Great Lakes, bringing heavy rounds of snow across northern portions. Strong gusts, some that could exceed 60 mph are possible. These gusts will make the cold temperatures feel even colder. Bundle up!

Temperatures will plunge even further on Thursday across the Great Lakes as even colder air settles in from the north. Highs will remain below the freezing mark for many cities, including Chicago.

News we are covering today:

Knowing how much sunshine to expect can make all the difference when planning your day. See how the Weather & Radar Sunlight Hours feature can help.