Beaumont schools remained open despite icy highways in southeast Texas, but hazardous road conditions forced closings in nearby counties.
Temperatures dropped to 31 degrees in the early-morning hours. Temperatures climbed only five degrees above that the rest of the day.
Minor accidents were reported throughout the area. Cars reportedly slid off highways throughout southeast Texas. None of the accidents, however, caused serious injuries.
The Golden Triangle [the area in which Beaumont is located] remained virtually ice free until late Friday [the day before publication]. East Texas counties reported roads that were glazed with ice. Sleet fell most of Friday.
Sections of Interstate 10 in Louisiana were closed much of Friday.
A Department of Public Safety spokeswoman said Friday afternoon that travel conditions around Houston were extremely hazardous.
Officials in Nacogdoches and
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Angelina counties told the Enterprise that a downpour of sleet had forced road closings there. Loop 69 North around Lufkin was closed by 6 p.m.
Roads were still open in Jasper County, but officials said that they anticipated closing the hilly sections of U.S. 96 as the road conditions continued to deteriorate throughout Friday. Deputy Sheriff Joe Thornton was the source of the information.
Thornton also said: "Troopers are going a maximum speed of 25 to 30 mph on their way to accidents. The road conditions are bad."
An 18-wheeler skidded on an ice-covered bridge on Interstate 10 in Chambers County. It blocked traffic on the Farm Road 146 overpass late Thursday for more than an hour.
The Department of Public Safety reported ice building up on bridges in Orange County late Friday. It was also accumulating on highways and roads. Freezing drizzle, temperatures hovering around 30 degrees and high winds were also reported late Friday. Sand was being placed on bridges throughout Friday night.
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Exercise 15.6
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2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education