Icy conditions hamper morning commute

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Icy roads, bridges and overpasses are causing some schools in areas surrounding Austin to delay classes, and officials are urging caution as the morning commuters get into their cars to drive Wednesday. While most of Central Texas dodged an ice storm, small patches of ice on the roads during morning rush hour caused accidents.

Officials with the Department of Public Safety said State Highway 45 was experiencing the most problems with ice before 5 a.m. Wednesday. The majority of bridges, flyovers and overpasses were also causing motorists problems. Officials described a grim scene overnight on the highways in Williamson County and westward across Burnet and Llano counties. Several reports of drivers skidding into barriers were taking place along U.S. Highway 183 in North Austin.

Cedar Park police reported one person died in the 2600 block of South Lakeline Blvd. near the intersection of West Riviera Drive around 2 a.m. Wednesday. Officials said the driver lost control of their pickup, left the roadway and struck a tree. There is no word on the name of the victim.

Meanwhile, some residents in Williamson County and the Hill Country woke up to find ice on their cars, fences and plants. The Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center has deactivated but did report sand trucks were dispatched overnight to try and prevent ice from forming on roadways. The metro area of Austin and south mainly received a light rain until 5 a.m. Wednesday.

It was a fleeting winter storm, as the upper level low pressure system producing the freezing precipitation will move out of Central Texas after sunrise, with clearing skies and warming temperatures by mid-morning. Highs will approach the middle 50s this afternoon.

The freezing rain was expected to end entirely in the metro area by about 6 a.m., and the storm warning finished by 11 a.m. Temperatures should start going back up by about 9 a.m., and by the end of the day, then mostly sunny.

Winter Storm and Ice Storm Warnings continue through the morning for all of the Central Texas Region, except Milam County, where a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect.

Why is this happening?

A blast of cold arctic air is reaching into Central Texas Tuesday, and rain is moving in from the Southwest. The combination has already created a serious winter event from North Texas, Oklahoma and beyond.

Elevated roadways, bridges and fly-overs will be the greatest threat for traffic problems, as the area could get a brief visit of icing situations Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. Yet, all precautions should be made, and consider the fact that delays may occur with schools, business and such.

Numerous storm reports from Oklahoma indicate up to half an inch of ice accumulating on bridges and overpasses in that state.

See Jim Spencer's weather blog for more information on all current Watches and Warnings and details on the approaching winter storm, including specific county by county forecasts.

Morning Reporter Kate Weidaw contributed to this copy.