ABILENE, Texas — We’ve been talking about it all week, and it did not disappoint. The winter storm brought a mixed bag of impacts, from icy roadways to power outages and school closures.
Although the snow and ice may no longer be falling, there are still some hurdles to get through before everything can resume as normal.
Over the past 48 hours, West Texas got slammed by a winter storm that plummeted temperatures and brought along a wintry mix of precipitation. Layers of snow and ice have piled roadways and other surfaces. The big country has had multiple reports of 3 - 4” of accumulation.
This has created unideal driving conditions. Multiple accidents and highway closures have already been reported. Traffic has been at a complete standstill on I-20 in Nolan County since last night. Travelers have been stuck on the interstate while first responders race to clear the road.
Although the precipitation may be gone, we still have two more days of bitter cold to get through before there is a chance for everything to melt.
Tonya Brown from TXDOT Abilene said residents should stay off the roads to allow crews a chance to clear roadways.
“It makes it difficult for our crew to clear and use those snowplows when traffic is out there. Also, if there is ice, you may not be able to see it if it’s a snow-packed road. We are discouraging travel until tomorrow, at least, or through Saturday morning.”
Brown also said residents can visit their website, DriveTexas.org, or follow their social media accounts (@TxDOTAbilene on Twitter, @TxDOTABL on Facebook) to find the latest updates on specific roads.
