A semi-truck sits on its side after it lost control Friday morning along Interstate 35 in Buda. The driver, George Guerrero, was ejected from the cab but did not suffer any injuries. The Kyle-Buda area received at least one inch of snow Friday, according to the National Weather Service. (Photo by Sean Kimmons)
by SEAN KIMMONS
The strong arctic blast that plagued the region last week crippled Hays County, causing rolling blackouts, closing schools and government offices and contributing to hundreds of vehicle accidents.
A weaker cold front is expected to arrive today, bringing the chance of a wintry mix of rain, freezing temperatures and gusty winds. Hard freezes in the 20s are expected in the Kyle-Buda area tonight, Thursday and Friday nights before a warming trend hits this weekend, weather officials say.
Last week, at least one inch of snow dropped in the area as a winter storm system pushed through the region, according to the National Weather Service station in New Braunfels.
The Hays County Sheriff’s Office reported more than 200 vehicle wrecks in the county, most of them due to the inclement weather, sheriff’s spokesperson Laurie Bain said. No significant injuries were reported.
The City of Kyle had no damage to city property, except for a police cruiser that was involved in a minor wreck, city spokesperson Jerry Hendrix said.
In Buda, city workers had to replace a water storage tank drain valve and respond to minor freezes to water wells, Buda Public Works Director Mike Beggs said.
Jackknifed on Interstate 35
Truck driver George Guerrero was about an hour away from his final destination Friday morning when his semi-truck lost control, jackknifed and landed on its side along Interstate 35 in Buda.
Guerrero, who was hauling goods for United Trucking from Chicago to San Antonio, said that he tried to avoid hitting a pickup truck with a little girl in the cab that veered in front of him along the icy road. He said that he was ejected from his truck when it tipped to its side.
“If it had rolled over, I wouldn’t be here talking,” Guerrero said.
A drive on Interstate 35 through Buda and Kyle on Friday revealed numerous vehicles abandoned on the roadside. At least four cars could also be seen in ditches near the intersection of FM 1626 and Lakewood Drive near Buda.
Powerful wind gusts of around 50 mph bombarded the area before the snow fell, knocking down trees and fences. Wind gusts between 25 and 45 mph are expected today as the cold front pushes through, National Weather Service meteorologist Paul Yura said.
“This is an arctic front just like the one last week,” Yura said Tuesday.
He said that any precipitation expected today will likely dry up before overnight temperatures plummet to the low 20s. No icy road conditions are expected, but he said to be wary of bridges and overpasses, where black ice may persist.
Bain, of the Sheriff’s office, warned drivers to stay in and not drive on the roads if the weather turns ugly. She added that tire chains for patrol cars and sand trucks will be on standby for this storm.
Rolling blackouts also disrupted the area last week after the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) required Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) and other utilities statewide to reduce electricity demand, an order that ended Feb. 2. The directive affected more than 34,000 PEC meters, according to PEC officials.
It’s still unknown if PEC will have to institute further blackouts to handle this coming cold front.
Kyle and Buda firefighters responded to a house fire at 300 Morning Dove Court in Kyle Feb. 2, which left extensive damage to the roof and garage. The fire appeared to be related to the cold weather as Hays County Fire Marshal Mark Chambers said it was caused by improper disposal of fireplace ashes.
Snow day
The first snow day of the season shut down schools and offices countywide, offering up a free day to many.
Richard Bueno and others scavenged enough of the thin coating of snow around his Kyle home to construct a small snowman, and carry out a snowball fight.
“I want to enjoy it until it all melts away,” he said. “You never know when snow will come to Kyle again.”
The snow also allowed for some shenanigans as students threw snowballs at passing cars on Burleson Road in Kyle, annoying drivers who occasionally stopped and yelled at them.
Though snow is doubtful for this week’s storm, residents are advised to take precautions to protect plants, pipes and outdoor pets from the overnight freezing temperatures ahead.
