Winter storm belts Belton area, chilling lows remain

Winter Storm Fern put Texas in the deep freeze this past weekend, icing roads and power lines, and closing schools, governments, and most businesses.

The storm passed earlier this week, but the chilly temperatures will be lingering for several more days, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Myles Langfeld.

“Over the weekend, we had a major arctic blast from Canada move through the US into north and central Texas,” Langfeld said. “It combined with moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, causing frozen precipitation in the form of sleet and snow.”

“We’re looking at cold weather throughout the weekend, but nothing like we just had,” he added. “For the most part, we are not expecting more precipitation, except for a slight chance early Thursday. A storm is expected in South Texas and it could brush Bell County.”

Belton had its fair share of weather-related accidents and incidents, according to Paul Romer, the city’s communications director.

“Main Street was drivable in most places but slippery on hills at the Second Avenue traffic light and the bridge over the railroad tracks,” he said. “Two-wheel-drive vehicles are not making it up hills.”

“Most of the interior roads in Belton were still very slick Monday,” Romer added. “Service roads are passable, except for the hill near Crossroads Church. That hill is very slippery.”

Romer said Belton roads were in worse conditions Monday than over the weekend. Belton police responded to 12 accidents early Monday. Several vehicles that slid off roadways, causing enough damage to need a tow or assistance getting unstuck.

“There was no new ice or sleet Monday, but freezing temps cause the ice to form a glassy surface on less traveled roads,” Romer said.

Other trouble spots in Belton included the hill on West Second near the Loop 121 intersection where multiple vehicles slid backward into ditches. Lake Road between FM 2271 and Dunns Canyon Road was also hazardous.

In general, I-35 was very slick Sunday night and Monday morning. Five 18-wheelers slid off the road causing blockages and requiring heavy wreckers to be towed.

The Belton Fire Department responded to 14 calls Sunday and assisted Sparta VFD on a structure fire Monday morning.

Last Saturday and Sunday, Belton PD responded to five crashes, Romer said. By 11 p.m. Saturday most of the traffic on roads had dramatically decreased as most people heeded the warnings about the weather.

No trash service will occur on Tuesday in Belton, due to icy road conditions. Collections will resume on Wednesday, and the schedule will run one day late the rest of the week.

All area school districts and local colleges were closed Monday.

“Due to inclement weather, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor campus was closed on Monday and Tuesday,” said UMHB Director of Marketing Ashley Smith. “The dining hall in Bawcom Student Union was open to serve students lunch and dinner.”

“Students should review their course pages in MyCourses for guidance from their professors on how Tuesday’s campus closure will affect their classes,” Smith said.

Because of icy roads and out of an abundance of caution, all Temple College campuses were closed Monday and Tuesday, and a Temple College Board of Trustees meeting originally scheduled for Monday will be rescheduled for a later date.

All Bell County offices were closed Monday and reopened Tuesday.

Belton ISD and Temple ISD were both closed Monday through Wednesday. The districts planned to resume normal operations on Thursday.

The city of Temple facilities reopened Tuesday. Monday’s trash collection in Temple was picked up Tuesday afternoon, along with Tuesday’s garbage.

Bell County Jail had some weather-related rooftop damage to a chiller/AC unit.

Bell County Judge David Backburn released this statement Monday night: “While there has been some improvement in road conditions, sub-freezing temperatures (Monday night) will make travel hazardous again (Tuesday) for most of the day. Wanting to err on the side of encouraging our residents to stay home, County offices will be closed on Tuesday.”

The Temple Police Department is investigating a traffic accident that left one individual deceased.

At around 3:24 p.m., on Monday, January 26, officers were dispatched to Hwy 317 and Airport Road for reports of an accident. Upon arrival, officers located a White SUV that had rolled over. Preliminary investigation suggests the vehicle was traveling northbound on HWY 317, left the roadway near Airport Road, and traveled into a ditch where the vehicle flipped.

One individual was pronounced deceased on scene.

Jake Smith of the Texas Department of Transportation said late Monday that no roads have been closed, but icy conditions exist on most if not all state roads in Bell County.

Residents and business owners are encouraged to report any damage to home or business through the Texas Division of Emergency Management STAT Damage Survey. Read more here: https://www.bellcountytx.com/publicnotice_detail_T3_R706.php.