Updated Feb. 4 at 10 a.m.
The National Weather Service is warning South Central Texans to be on the lookout for falling ice sickles from trees and roofs and black ice on roadways.
San Antonio will get a chance to thaw after noon today as temperatures rise above freezing for the first time in more than 24 hours.
Weather service meteorologist Aaron Treadway said the Hill Country will not get a chance to thaw out until tomorrow, so iced roads will stay that way. Black ice is created when ice melts, becomes dirty water, and then refreezes.
"For tomorrow, we are expecting highs across all of South Central Texas, including the Hill Country, to reach up at into at least the low to mid 40s, and so tomorrow, again with help with the sun, should be our main thaw out day," Treadways said.
In San Antonio, most roads were open this morning, except for the U.S. 281-Loop 1604 flyover on the far North Side. Crews are working to clear them.
Many City of San Antonio staff members are working remotely due to the weather conditions, Public Works, Police, Fire and other critical city services will remain in operation.
Solid waste pickup services will resume at 9 a.m. All other regular City operations will resume at 11 a.m. Friday.
Previous reporting:
H-E-B stores in the San Antonio metro area closed early on Thursday, at 6 p.m., and the San Antonio Public Library closed at 2:30 p.m.
The city has several warming centers that will remain open until noon Friday. Pets are welcome. Residents in need of transportation assistance may contact 311.
(1/2)❄️City of San Antonio Warming Centers❄️
— City of San Antonio 💪+💉= 💯 (@COSAGOV) February 2, 2022
Four City operated warming centers will offer short-term emergency shelter starting at 7 a.m. tomorrow, Feb 3 through noon Friday, Feb 4. The centers will use appropriate COVID-19 prevention protocols. Masks are strongly encouraged. pic.twitter.com/RLwxB4RoMz
VIA Metropolitan Transit reported these service changes on Thursday morning:
- Route 96 has no service on Vance Jackson between Wurzbach & Huebner.
- Route 602 North-Central Medical Center has no service on Dreamland between Vance Jackson & Lockhill-Selma.
- Route 21 Kirby/Converse has no service along I-35 North & South by Splashtown.
- Routes 610 (Ingram/NW Crossing), 618 (Ingram Westlakes), and 620 (NW Vista/Ingram) have been detoured to the Ingram Transit Center.
Offices and transit centers are open, and VIAtrans and VIA Link services will continue as long as it is safe to do so. Stay up to date at VIAinfo.net/Weather.Road Closures
TXDOT San Antonio officials reminded drivers to use caution while operating vehicles during winter weather. If it’s not possible to delay or avoid travel, drivers should slow down, increase the distance between vehicles, watch out for ice and avoid distractions.
As of Thursday evening, the following roads were closed:
- SB I-35 at Weidner road
- EB Loop 410 and the Highway 281 North Flyover
- The Loop 1604 and I-10 flyovers
- The interchange of Loop 1604 and Highway 281
- WB I-10 Westbound from USTA to Boerne Stage road
- Loop 1604 at UTSA
For up to date road conditions, visit drivetexas.org.
2/3/22 5:12 AM - Please use caution if driving on the highways this morning. If possible, delay travel. As a precaution, crews are in the process of closing the US 281/Loop 1604 direct connectors. #WinterWeather pic.twitter.com/Wl1cAXNPIO
— TxDOT San Antonio (@TxDOTSanAntonio) February 3, 2022
Northern Bexar County had seen reports of a tenth to two-tenths of an inch of ice sticking to surfaces in some spots on Thursday. Trees heavy with ice collapsed in Leon Valley and Terrell Hills. A National Weather Service spotter reports one iced-over tree in Terrell Hills fell on some vehicles.
Flooding is also impacting some roads in Bexar County. A flood-related closure map can be found here:
Flights
Winter weather across the U.S. and Texas has led airlines to cancel several flights.
Many flights at the San Antonio International Airport are canceled — customers are urged to check with their airlines for the latest, or visit FlySanAntonio.com.Warming centers
The cold and rainy weather is also dangerous for San Antonian pedestrians. Four city operated warming centers will offer short-term emergency shelter between 7 a.m. Thursday through noon on Friday.
Masks are strongly encouraged. Anyone coming to the centers should bring clothes, supplies and medicine that they will need. Pets are welcome. Residents in need of transportation assistance may contact 3-1-1.
The centers are located at the Garza Community Center at 14-50 Mira Vista, the Harlandale Community Center at 7227 Briar Place, the Hamilton Community Center in the 10,700 block of Nacogdoches Road, and at the Denver Heights Community Center in the 300 block of Porter Street.
