We're scheduled to check out Tuesday morning and drive home to College Station. I've been watching drivetexas.org and it seems like we may not be able to get home till like March. Would love some input on what conditions are like on the ground. Truck is 4WD but nothing special other than that. Projected route: Clayton, NM - Dalhart - Amarillo - Wichita Falls - Ft. Worth - Waco - College Station

Big12Champ06 said:

---

We're scheduled to check out Tuesday morning and drive home to College Station. I've been watching drivetexas.org and it seems like we may not be able to get home till like March. Would love some input on what conditions are like on the ground. Truck is 4WD but nothing special other than that. Projected route: Clayton, NM - Dalhart - Amarillo - Wichita Falls - Ft. Worth - Waco - College Station

---

Just drive slow if you decide to go.

I wouldn't try it till after the second wave of moister hits on Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
You might make it part way but it will be slow going and getting stuck scrambling for a hotel when all the highways shut down isn't something I want to play with when I have my family in the truck.

Had not even considered hotel availability along the way. Good tip. Thank you.

Extend your stay. Seriously. It's an ice rink all over the place.

Mathguy64 said:

---

Extend your stay. Seriously. It's an ice rink all over the place.

---

sheriff's office just robo called to say roads were iced over and maintenance crews wouldn't be working.... on the coast!

Is also stay until Thursday. After that it will be a breeze. 65 here in central Texas Sunday. Now we are totally iced over.

Mathguy64 said:

---

Extend your stay. Seriously. It's an ice rink all over the place.

---

+1

Extend your stay for sure. Nothing good can happen on the road the next 2-3 days.

Amarillo news said Dalhart got about 6.5 inches snow. Amarillo a little less but there was possibly a band coming thru tonight with another 3 inches or so.

Even if you are good at driving in those conditions, nobody south of Childress is. My family spent the night in our vehicle in a truck stop parking lot one night because accidents in front of us closed the roads and every hotel room nearby was booked. I was driving cautiously for the conditions, but it only takes 1 idiot...

SunrayAg said:

---

Even if you are good at driving in those conditions, nobody south of Childress is. My family spent the night in our vehicle in a truck stop parking lot one night because accidents in front of us closed the roads and every hotel room nearby was booked. I was driving cautiously for the conditions, but it only takes 1 idiot...

---

This is exactly what you want to avoid.
The first thing to learn about when learning how to drive in snow and ice, is when not to drive in snow and ice.

I can tell you Ft. Worth is not the route you want to take. They are calling for a heck of a snow and ice storm coming through Tuesday/Wednesday.
If anything, look at heading south and coming in from the west. However, probably extend trip until Friday.

Appreciate all the info. Spending the night in the truck on the side of some remote FM road is one of my worst fears. Behind, of course, death or injury.

The other wrench is that the water is off and pipes are drained at home. So we have no idea if we'd even have water before things thaw.

You leave a bit of heat on at the house?

Central Texas is a giant ice rink. Don't do it. we can't even get down the driveway.

Austin news today, coldest day on record expected Tuesday, another front Wednesday, and thawing Friday.

I would suggest staying put and getting in a couple of extra days of skiing on the "warm side".

The only thing additive I have for the conversation is the use of snow and ice tires. Moved to Germany this past year and they are mandated for use during the winter. We got a nice set of blizzaks and they have been incredible, no sliding or slipping.

Still need to drive slow in bad conditions, but they have kept my family and I safe, additionally since mandated all other drivers are operating with the same equipment. Definitely a huge fan!

Look in the possibilities of dropping down to I-10 instead of the more northern routes. I-25 to I-10 may be your best bet.

I had to make a trip across town yesterday in Waco. Normally, it would have taken 45 minutes. It took 2 hours. Everything is icy.

I took it slow and didn't have any trouble, but I did have a jackass fish tailing while tailgating me.

You would not be able to make the drive in a single day and would have a high risk of encountering more idiots than I did.

I can tell you the roads near i-10 around Sealy are black iced. Lots of mist settling on 18 degree roads. Maybe they cleared i-10 but I'd say it's iffy.

Look at drivetexas.org for road conditions. Right now you can make out the outline of the state by just the icy road reports. Saw a report that every overpass in Texas is iced over. If it looks clear on the map right now, assume it isn't and hasn't been reported.

In have 13 family members stuck in Crested Butte with me, they were all supposed to fly out yesterday but the entire state is Texas is closed for the immediate future. We have the house till Wednesday so hopefully it clears up by then.

Amarillo roads currently very good. But another storm is due Tuesday.

That is when round #2 is supposed to hit

I'd wait it out.
I've been stuck on the side of an icy road with my family for a few hours and it was awful. Couldn't imagine being stranded for any longer,

Well...we decided to extend to Saturday. Cheaper than a truck in the ditch or worse.

Thanks for all the input and hope everyone is safe and has running water!

All flights cancelled, rebooked for Friday.

6/8 more inches expected tonight in the CO high country. Assume that's headed towards TX.

We get your storm Wednesday. Then slow warming trend. 60's by Sunday...I hope.