we have water towers all over the north. and it may have just been the age of the sructure finally giving way. we have long sustained colds for extended months in the north and i have never seen this happen to a water tower during the winter months. good find on something happening in texas for sure, but logically to me from my perspective it seems like the weather may have been just the a small factor to finaly break an older water tower. many of these kinds of towers in my area have all been repalace in the last 4 to 5 years.