Austin ISD Opts Not To Delay Opening Despite Icy Roads

AUSTIN, TX — Despite the possibility of icy roads tomorrow morning, Austin ISD officials have opted not to delay the opening of staff operations on Wednesday.

Late Tuesday, officials at the Leander and Lago Vista school districts decided to delay their opening by two hours to allow time for ice on the roadways to melt and allow parents/guardians more time negotiating slick roadways.

But Ausin ISD officials have decided to resume operations as normal, officials said via social media late Tuesday.

"AISD is proceeding as scheduled tomorrow, Wed/Jan. 3," district officials tweeted just before 10 p.m. on Tuesday. "Dist[rict] officials have been in communication with the @NWSSanAntonio to understand that no precipitation is forecasted [sic]. We encourage commuters to allow time in order to proceed safely in the cold temperatures."

Temperatures dipping below the 32-degree freezing point that have lingered since late Sunday continued their icy grip on the area all day Tuesday, as temperatures stayed at 30 degrees for most of the day before dipping into the high- to mid 20s as the evening progressed. Throughout the day, emergency workers were kept busy rushing to the scenes of several traffic accidents blamed on icy roadways.

Given those conditions, the Leander and Lago Vista school districts announced their two-hour delays late Tuesday in an abundance of caution. During inclement weather on school days, districts often delay the opening of classes to allow people more time to safely travel and to give more time for ice to melt. Similar delays are implemented during winter breaks for district staff workers.

Motorists are urged to slow down as they head out Tuesday morning when the temperatures are expected to continue at sub-freezing levels, as well as maintaining a safe distance with cars in front of them. The good news is that a warming trend will start to develop as the day progresses on Wednesday, reaching a high temperature of 51 degrees that will — after days of below-freezing weather bereft of the sun — will likely seem comparatively balmy.

But before that, overnight temps are expected to dip to 22 degrees (that's not a typo; check out the National Weather Service forecast for yourself by clicking here.) So it's likely that there will be icy patches on roads in the early morning hours, meaning drivers should drive cautiously. So-called "black ice" — frozen patches on the roads virtually invisible to the naked eye — are a real threat with the danger they pose enhanced at unsafe speeds and by following other cares too closely.

Bottom line: Be careful out there. For real-time traffic updates, visit drivetexas.org.

Related stories:

Leander ISD Delays Classes By Two Hours Due To Icy Roads

Icy Road Conditions In Austin Spark Accidents, Road Closures

Multi-Car Cedar Park Wreck Closes Street, Toll Roads Treacherous

>>> Photo by Juha Lakaniemi on Unsplash