Snow and Ice shut down Houston

Old Man Winter paid the South a surprise visit during the days following MLK Day. In a region not used to winter weather, the snow and ice caught many people off guard. Texas Department of Transportation crews worked feverishly to fill trucks with sand and salt ahead of the winter storm.

Bridges and overpasses were treated with de-icing and anti-icing solution. Both Bush Intercontinental and Hobby Airport prepared their de-icing trucks. While some people did choose to venture out, most of Houston remained shut down.

This is not the first-time winter weather has hit the region. In March 2014, a winter storm also threatened the city. Luckily, only the northern outskirts bore the brunt of that storm. It seems that Houston does not take winter storm warnings lightly. City officials constantly monitor weather patterns and send out alerts if conditions are expected to deteriorate.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of Harris County, or METRO suspended service starting on January 16. By the next day, only METRORail was in service and bus routes remained suspended until 2 pm. This was done out of caution since some bus routes were still not clear of ice on the roads.

The weather was not the only thing people dealt with. Much of the city got a tenth of an inch of ice and even saw snow. While this may not seem like a big deal, ice on the roads poses many problems. The most dangerous is black ice, which is almost impossible to see. Temperatures also plunged into the teens and twenties in many parts of the city. This type of hard freeze is enough to burst water pipes and kill sensitive plants.

With winter still in full swing, many people in Houston are hoping this will be the last winter storm for a while. Despite the cold and snow, people seemed to enjoy the taste of winter while it lasted.

While conditions have improved, there are still spots that have ice on the roads. This will mostly be limited to very high overpasses and freeway connector ramps. If you see ice and snow, take it slow. It’s not worth risking your life.