HOUSTON — Road conditions across the Houston area are rapidly changing as a winter storm brings freezing rain, ice, and dangerously cold temperatures to Southeast Texas.
Why roads become dangerous so quickly in Houston
Ice forms when rain falls through warmer air aloft, then passes through subfreezing air near the surface, freezing on contact with roads, bridges, trees, and power lines.
In Southeast Texas, even a trace to around a tenth of an inch of ice can make roads extremely hazardous. Overpasses, elevated roadways, and untreated surfaces tend to freeze first — often before drivers realize conditions have changed.
Because Houston is not built for prolonged freezing conditions, ice buildup can quickly overwhelm roadways, making travel dangerous even for experienced drivers…