With a forecast that includes dangerous icy roads and frigid temperatures, the 12News StormTrackers are putting Southeast Texas first with live updates
BEAUMONT, Texas — As a brutal Arctic freeze threatens to bring dangerous ice, sleet, snow and single-digit low temperatures, you can get the latest updates and information right here.
Our team of experienced 12News StormTrackers is tracking the dangerous winter storm around the clock.
The National Weather Service says the entire state of Texas is now under Winter Storm Warning.
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Here’s the latest time for the winter storm impacting Southeast Texas
Many schools are either closed Monday and Tuesday or moving students to virtual learning. You’ll find a separate list of business closures here.
Local and state officials have advised Texans to stay off the road as freezing rain and snow create hazardous travel conditions.
Winter Storm Top Headlines
Monday morning
12:26 a.m. Ice and snow reported along US 96 in Jasper, according to TxDOT . Crews are continuing to treat roads and bridges throughout the night. All drivers are advised to stay home if possible.
Sunday updates
11 p.m. – The Texas Department of Transportation is pretreating roads throughout the weekend, according to a TxDOT.
10:55 p.m. – Beaumont Transit is suspending service on Monday, February 15, 2021 due to hazardous driving conditions due to the impending storm.
10:34 p.m. – Police Chief Art Acevedo says HPD is working 134 traffic crashes across the Houston roadways.
10:15 p.m. – TxDOT Beaumont says they are starting to see some issues with ice in Liberty County. Please stay home if you can. If you must travel, visit http://DriveTexas.org for current road conditions
10 p.m. – Beaumont Police Traffic Unit closed Maury-Meyers Bridge, Lindbergh Overpass and the Dowlen Road Overpass for precautionary measures due to freezing rain falling across Southeast Texas.
9:45 p.m. – Freezing rain and sleet starting to across Beaumont
Feb. 14, 9:45 p.m. — Tyler County issued a disaster declaration ahead of the winter storm.
Feb. 14, 5 p.m. — Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said he will make a decision Monday about closing the courthouse on Tuesday.
“It will be up to the public health departments to come up with a vaccination schedule, but it is unlikely that people will be able to travel the roadways,” he said, referring to the mass COVID-19 vaccination hubs in Jefferson County.
Feb. 14, 5 p.m. — Jasper County Judge Mark Allen gave an update about changes in COVID-19 vaccination plans due to severe weather.
“Tomorrow was already clear due to President’s Day and no appointments were scheduled for Tuesday due to our health district’s family health service schedule,” he said. “We anticipate holding a mass vaccination clinic as scheduled on Wednesday, weather permitting.”
Feb. 14, 1:30 p.m. — Chambers County Judge Jimmy Sylvia issued a disaster declaration about the imminent winter storm threat.
Chambers County offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 15 and Tuesday, Feb. 16 for President’s Day and to ensure their employees are able to stay home and safe during the inclement weather.
Feb. 14, 1 p.m. — Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel issued a disaster declaration ahead of the approaching winter storm conditions in Southeast Texas
Saturday
Feb. 13, 3:12 p.m. — Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Disaster Relief volunteers said in a statement that they are prepared to respond to the historic winter storm. Chainsaw crews and possibly feeding units will be deployed as needs emerge, SBTC DR Director Scottie Stice said.
“What makes this situation so unique is that it is such a large event,” he said. “Cold temperatures across two thirds of the state with snow and ice on the ground and lots more coming. It’s also unique because we are looking at several days of sub-freezing weather.”
SBTC Disaster Relief told residents to make sure they have enough food and water, take care of outside animals and cover outdoor pipes. If you have to travel, make sure you have blankets, food and water in your car.
Feb. 13, 9 a.m. — Texas Park and Wildlife Department issued a temporary closure to saltwater fishing along parts of the Texas coast to protect resources during freezing weather conditions starting at midnight Monday, Feb. 15 and going through midnight Tuesday, Feb. 16.
A hard freeze can kill game fish in shallow bay waters and cause surviving fish to gather in deeper areas where they are sluggish and easier to catch.
“The high mortality that a freeze can cause may deplete fish stocks for years,” Director of TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Division Robin Riechers said. “Protection of the surviving fish during the few days when they are especially vulnerable to capture would likely shorten the time period for overall recovery of coastal species, especially spotted sea trout.”
During the 1980s, there were three major freezes, including one in 1989 that killed about 11 million fish when the temperature dropped to 16 degrees in Brownsville. The last time there was a closure due to freezing temperatures was in January 2018. That freeze did not kill significant numbers of fish.
The closures in Southeast Texas are in:
- Galveston County, from Moses Lake to the tide gate, to include the navigational channel up to the northern shoreline of Dollar Bay (area corresponds to 29° 26.00″ N to 29° 27.00″ N). Dollar Bay and Moses Bayou are not included.
- Galveston County, all Offats Bayou east of Marker 22.
- Orange, near Bridge City at the Entergy Outfall, from the mouth of the canal at the Neches River Canal to the power plant.