Editor's note: With plummeting temperatures and deteriorating road conditions expected over the next few days, we ask for your patience with the delivery of your San Marcos Daily Record. You can always find us online at sanmarcosrecord.com.
The National Weather Service is forecasting icy conditions to continue Sunday with snow possible Monday morning.
The NWS issued a winter storm warning for Hays County and the surrounding area, which went into effect Saturday at 6 a.m. and stretches through Monday at 12 p.m.
Icy conditions were seen throughout San Marcos on Saturday. The San Marcos Police Department said it responded to more than a dozen auto accidents caused by icy roads. The City of San Marcos said patrol officers shut down Interstate 35 to treat the highway for ice for approximately two hours Saturday morning.
Inclement weather will continue Sunday with the weather service forecasting temperatures to reach a high of 30 degrees on Sunday, and lows will get down to 13 degrees Sunday night with chances of snow and sleet.
“This cold air that’s over us right now, we’re kind of gonna stay in this cold pattern for several days,” NWS meteorologist Yvette Benavides said. “Since we’ve been so cold for a good amount of time now, the roads have had a chance to cool off quite a bit and so impacts may come on faster than what we saw (Thursday).”
Benavides said anywhere between 1-1.5 inches of snow may be seen in San Marcos on Monday morning.
“Sunday afternoon that’s where we’re gonna see some changes with some wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet and then changing over to snow by Monday,” Benavides said, adding that north winds will blow 15-20 mph on Monday and gusts may be in the 30-mph range.
The City of San Marcos’ Transportation Division crews reapplied pre-treatment across city streets and bridges on Friday in anticipation of winter weather during the next two days.
The city said its transportation crews focused on the following roads and bridges: Sessom Drive – Comanche Street to North LBJ Drive; Wonder World Drive bridges; Aquarena Springs bridge at Post Road/ Bobcat Stadium; Aquarena Springs bridge at San Marcos River; Old Ranch Road 12 – Holland Street to Hopkins Street; Hopkins bridge at San Marcos River; Cheatham Street bridge at San Marcos River; CM Allen bridge at Purgatory Creek; Yarrington bridge at Interstate 35; Guadalupe at Willow Springs creek; Guadalupe bridge at Purgatory Creek; South LBJ bridge at Purgatory Creek; North LBJ Drive – Sessom Drive to Holland; N. LBJ Drive – Tanglewood to top of hill; Oakridge Hill; Cape Road bridge and Hunter bridge.
The city said despite its efforts to treat roads for ice, bridges and roadways will remain slick and dangerous.
The city and SMPD are urging residents to remain at home if possible. If you must travel visit drivetexas.org for updates on current road conditions
“Winter weather conditions are expected to continue throughout the weekend so stay off the roadways if possible,” the city said in a statement Saturday.
Additionally, the city has visited each of its buildings to check plumbing and wrap any plumbing exposed to the elements, said Sandy McKenzie, General Services Administrative Coordinator. The city is also taking steps to protect its water and wastewater facilities with freezing temperatures in the forecast for the next several days.
“The water and wastewater treatment plants were designed to protect all of their assets, even in extreme weather,” Public Services Assistant Director Tyler Hjorth said. “Much like all of Central Texas, we are making extra preparations for the arctic air moving in our direction. The treatment facilities are staffed 24 hours a day monitoring water quality and both facilities have a maintenance crew on stand-by to respond to the unexpected. We’ve taken additional precautions to insulate exposed piping and cover all equipment critical to the treatment process.”
As the cold weather continues, the National Weather Service recommends everyone to remember the four Ps: People, pets, pipes and plants. People are advised to check on neighbors, bring in pets from the outdoors, wrap pipes and cover plants or bring them inside.
Following the chance for wintry weather between Sunday and Monday, Benavides said another weather system is expected to blow through the area midweek.
“We’ve been really trying to fine tune the details of this (system) that’s coming midweek,” Benavides said. “With the cold temperatures not going anywhere, that’s probably going to be another impactful day on Wednesday.”
Additional reporting by Stephanie Gates
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