The new 2014 year has already built character bringing in something Texans are just not used to – frigid weather. People are calling the weather, “The Texas Freeze”. The National Weather Service issued a Hard Freeze Warning for the majority of Texas counties on January 5, 2014. This is the first hard Texas freeze to hit southeast Texas since 2010, according to Houston National Weather Service.
Arctic winds slam the nation, reaching Washington to southeast Texas. Many states are in the middle a deep freeze and heavy snow which is causing trouble for commuters. Among travelers stranded by the cold, snow, and ice were nearly 500 Amtrak passengers who were stuck on trains overnight in downstate Illinois, reported CBA Chicago. It is not only trains that are stranded, more than 7,000 flights have been cancelled and stalled several distribution trucks.
Record cold temperatures are being recorded across the Midwest and Eastern United States again today as a so-called polar vortex of dense, frigid air has descended as far south as Texas and Florida.
Driving On Icy Roads
The Texas freeze has caused many car accidents and collisions because many Texans are unaware on how to drive on winter roads. If you plan on traveling in the middle of the Texas freeze, It is best to avoid driving in bad weather. If you must go out, there are precautionary tips in driving over icy roads. Always review the owner manual for tips specific to your vehicle.
DO
1) Decrease your speed and leave an eight-second space between you and the car in front of you for breaking.
2) Brake gently to avoid skidding. Ease off the brake is your wheels start to lock up.
3) Turn on your lights, even in the daylight. This will allow other motorist to easily see you.
4) Drive your car on low gears to increase traction, especially when driving on hills.
DO NOT
5) DO NOT use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
6) DO NOT pass snow plows. Snow plows usually have limited visibility and if you are behind them, the road ahead of them is probably not plowed yet.
7) DO NOT assume your vehicle is invincible. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles have difficulty when driving on icy roads.
What is the difference between freeze, hard freeze and deep freeze?
A freeze is classified anytime the temperatures reaches 32° or colder. There is not a time determinate on a freeze. It can last anywhere from a few short minutes to a significant stretch of hours. A hard freeze is when temperatures are expected to be below freezing for an extended period of time and could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation. For Southeast Texas, a Hard Freeze Warning is issued when temperatures are expected to be 25° or below for two hours or more. A deep freeze is below freezing degrees with strong wind shield for consecutive days.
