Icy weather shuts down Texas three days after 135 car pileup in fort worth

[gabeoz 7,915]

I live in San Antonio- everywhere is closing for at least a day, they've already closed several highways and my friends said that there was a pileup near the airport earlier today. It's currently 18 degrees, with wind chill making it feel like 4 degrees, and the temperature is expected to drop a little more 

[gabeoz 7,915]

3 minutes ago, Kattys said:

I drive a car in Europe and you can feel ice on the road immediately. One time I got into this freezing rain situation, even  turning was extremely difficult, driving at 10km/h felt like speeding and absolute maximum that you can do. Road to home that I usually did in 25 minutes took over two hours. But everyone was driving super slow, it was insane day. 
But I suppose they don’t have such thing as winter tyres? People should be educated about driving in winter conditions, no matter where they live.

Most places in Texas (especially south Texas) rarely ever get any major snow/ice. Even when it does snow flurry a little bit its warm enough to immediately melt it. Winter storms with below freezing temps are a one in a decade thing here. No one owns winter tires and cities dont have road salters and snow dozers because there's almost never a need. That makes a dangerous combo whenever it comes around because it's impossible to see black ice.

Austin, TX, literally has police cars and ambulances sitting on the side of highways for backup because anyone who goes over certain areas will drift off and possibly hit something.

[Ashley 10,236]

41 minutes ago, Lady Papa said:

I'm scared, my job wants me to travel a few hours around Texas several times this week, and my job is also pretty ridiculous so they might not let me stay at home

How can they force you to work if government officials are advising to stay off the roads? I would ask to get what they told you in writing, it would be a liability on their part if you got hurt. Can you contact your HR department?

[Kattys 4,319]

Just now, gabeoz said:

Most places in Texas (especially south Texas) rarely ever get any major snow/ice. Even when it does snow flurry a little bit its warm enough to immediately melt it. Winter storms with below freezing temps are a one in a decade thing here. No one owns winter tires and cities dont have road salters and snow dozers because there's almost never a need. 

Uhh I understand, very difficult situation.

But for example I own „all year round” tyres that are something between summer and winter ones, they’re not perfect but do their job in winter. But probably it’s not a popular solution.

[uo111 5,282]

4 minutes ago, Kattys said:

I drive a car in Europe and you can feel ice on the road immediately. One time I got into this freezing rain situation, even  turning was extremely difficult, driving at 10km/h felt like speeding and absolute maximum that you can do. Road to home that I usually did in 25 minutes took over two hours. But everyone was driving super slow, it was insane day. 
But I suppose they don’t have such thing as winter tyres? People should be educated about driving in winter conditions, no matter where they live.

There are no winter tires in Texas, they aren’t practical, this type of weather is super rare and typically last a day or less.
 

Freezing rain is dangerous anywhere, of course, but freezing rain at these latitudes is even more dangerous because the roads won’t be adequately treated and the vehicles not properly equipped, making it even harder to maneuver and stop than in places that actually have winter weather regularly. And the people treat it like driving in rain, they have no idea!

[RRR 3,996]

19 minutes ago, modern ecstasy said:

How can they force you to work if government officials are advising to stay off the roads? I would ask to get what they told you in writing, it would be a liability on their part if you got hurt. Can you contact your HR department?

I work for the government

Thanks for your suggestions. I have decided that I will simply refuse. I have been here for long enough to where I can refuse a life-threatening situation and hopefully still get a good reference.

[weed 78,931]

135 fking cars... that's crazy. I can't imagine how long they were stuck.. I can't imagine how scary, how angry, how anxious, etc etc. RIP to those who died

[Morphine Prince 109,655]

In Texas and there’s currently sleet with snow probably later tonight. 

[Perezchristian 63]

15 minutes ago, uo111 said:

There are no winter tires in Texas, they aren’t practical, this type of weather is super rare and typically last a day or less.
 

Freezing rain is dangerous anywhere, of course, but freezing rain at these latitudes is even more dangerous because the roads won’t be adequately treated and the vehicles not properly equipped, making it even harder to maneuver and stop than in places that actually have winter weather regularly. And the people treat it like driving in rain, they have no idea!

Not really because it's supposed to stay under 30 until Thursday so The snow and Black ice are gonna stay a while 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[tylertremallose 1,398]

im houston/galveston area...as of right now its just sleeting

 

[gabeoz 7,915]

49 minutes ago, tylertremallose said:

im houston/galveston area...as of right now its just sleeting

 

It's currently snowing in San Antonio. We've gotten at least half an inch in the past half hour. It's uspposed to stay like this for another few hours. (Originally was gonna get sleet before the snow but that part of the storm didnt hit SAT, its just pure snow.)

[tylertremallose 1,398]

1 minute ago, gabeoz said:

It's currently snowing in San Antonio. We've gotten at least half an inch in the past half hour. It's uspposed to stay like this for another few hours. (Originally was gonna get sleet before the snow but that part of the storm didnt hit SAT, its just pure snow.)

my job says we are gonna open at noon, but like...if the roads are icy and gonna stay below freezing, i dont think the ice is going anywhere 🤷🏼‍♂️

[Lion Heart 15,041]

 

[gabeoz 7,915]

1 minute ago, tylertremallose said:

my job says we are gonna open at noon, but like...if the roads are icy and gonna stay below freezing, i dont think the ice is going anywhere 🤷🏼‍♂️

There's no way. They don't understand that cities in texas dont have road salters and snow plows because it almost never happens  My friend's boss is texting her like "it's supposed to be sunny tomorrow so youre expected to come in" like b*tch that doesnt matter when its staying under 30 the entire day (not to mention that the roads will be colder than the temp)

[AJRocketMan 2,684]

Mess. It’s SNOWING in San Antonio.  I have family and friends there. It snowed lightly in late 2017 and before that there was a snowstorm in January 1985!