When Cold Weather Reaches the Coast

Melissa Mitchell
Jan 28
4 min read

Header graphic for The Art of Island Life blog featuring Melissa Mitchell’s name, Padre Island Art Gallery, and a soft brushstroke design in coastal colors

January 28, 2026

While much of the country is busy navigating icy roads, frozen pipes, and snow-covered mornings, here on the Island we prepare a little differently. We stock up, tuck in early, and keep an eye on the weather—mindful of the brief freeze, grateful for the warmth, and never quite taking it for granted.

At the same time, my heart is very much inland. Parts of my family—and one of my businesses—in Northeast Texas are right in the middle of it. Thick layers of ice beneath blankets of snow. Power outages. Long, quiet nights where even the best preparation gets tested. Watching it all unfold from a distance has a way of sharpening your perspective.

It makes you think about what it means to be warm. To be sheltered. To have a door to close and a blanket to pull tight.

Poodle bundled in a pink winter coat and ear warmers navigating deep snow during a winter storm at Prancing Paws Doggie Daycare in Northeast Texas.

And during these colder stretches, my thoughts always drift beyond our own homes—to the small, silent lives outdoors. The birds I watch each morning, the little ones I scatter seed and set fresh water out for, and the wildlife that simply has to endure whatever the weather brings.

And then there are the lives we don’t always see as easily, beneath the surface of the water.

Especially our sea turtles.

A Hidden Winter Risk Along the Coast

When temperatures dip below about 50 degrees, sea turtles face a serious and often invisible danger known as cold-stunning. Because turtles are cold-blooded, sudden drops in water temperature can leave them lethargic, disoriented, and unable to swim or dive properly. In severe cases, they may float at the surface or wash ashore, overwhelmed by the cold.

Sea turtle recovering in a clear-water tank at the Texas SeaLife Center, highlighting cold-stunning rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

What many people don’t realize is that cold-stunned turtles can appear lifeless at first glance—when in reality, many can recover with timely rescue and proper care.

This time of year, rescues increase dramatically.

Here along the Texas coast, cold-stunning events are not uncommon. They’re sobering moments, but they’re also powerful reminders that awareness, calm action, and community support can truly make a difference.

What To Do If You Find a Sea Turtle

Sea turtles are resilient, ancient, and essential to healthy marine ecosystems—but they’re also vulnerable. So while we sip something warm and wait out the cold, let’s remember to keep watch for those who can’t.

If you come across a sea turtle that appears stranded or cold-stunned, the most important thing to remember is this:

Do NOT attempt to transport or treat the turtle yourself.

Do not put the turtle back in the water.

Cold water can be fatal, even if your instinct is to help it return to the sea.

Instead, make the call and trained responders will guide you on next steps and ensure the turtle gets the care it needs.

• Texas Sea Turtle Info Line: 1-866-TURTLE-5 (887-8535)

• Texas Sealife Center: 361-589-4023

Those calls matter. They activate a network of trained professionals who know how to respond safely—for both people and turtles. Because sometimes, the most important acts of care happen when no one is looking—and when a simple phone call can mean the difference between loss and recovery.

How You Can Truly Help Right Now

During cold-stunning events, it’s natural to want to jump in and help hands-on. But these rescues require specific training, and for the safety of both turtles and people, only certified responders are able to assist directly during these events.

What does make a meaningful impact right now is financial support.

Organizations like the Texas Sealife Center rely on donations to provide emergency medical care, supplies, transport, and around-the-clock monitoring during these events.

If you’re able, donations can be made easily with the following links:

Cold-stunned sea turtles being carefully transported in individual bins to the Texas SeaLife Center for emergency care during cold weather conditions.

• Donate directly: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=NUV5ZDKMEJMKW

QR code to donate to the Texas SeaLife Center in support of cold-stunned sea turtle rescue efforts.

(Donations can also be set up as monthly recurring gifts, which are especially helpful during unpredictable winter weather.)

• Support through their Amazon Wish List: https://amzn.to/3NFrgFw

QR code to view and purchase items from the Texas SeaLife Center’s Amazon Wish List for turtle care and rehabilitation.

Every contribution—large or small—helps ensure these ancient, gentle creatures have a fighting chance.

Cold weather reminds us how connected we all are—to each other and to the wildlife that share the Island with us. From loved ones navigating snow and ice miles away to sea turtles struggling silently beneath cold waters, these moments invite us to slow down and pay attention.

For our sea turtles, cold snaps bring a very real risk. As the team at the Texas Sealife Center explains, cold-stunned turtles usually don’t come in on the Gulf beach side. They’re more often found in the Laguna Madre, where shallow water cools much faster.

During these events, rescue teams are focused on immediate care. “We do not usually have teams that patrol because we are triaging the turtles that come into our care,” they shared. It’s all hands on deck behind the scenes, tending to the turtles already rescued and working to stabilize them.

Helping doesn’t always have to be loud or dramatic. It can be as simple as knowing when to make a call, giving quietly, or caring enough to notice.

And that, too, is part of the art of island life.

The Art of Island Life will return next week with more stories and coastal reflections. Have a story to share or a cause close to your heart? I’d love to hear from you at contact@melissamitchellart.com