An Icy Experience

Seven years ago, the Christmas morning of 2004, Laredo, Texas experienced an event that nobody had expected: the falling of snow. Snow is not expected in Laredo due to the hot, humid weather and the limited amount of cold weather during the winter season. Although the falling of snow was as low as approximately 4 inches and only lasted for a few days, causing red dirt around vehicles and the pavement area, Laredoans were astonished by the experience and did not expect it to occur years later. 

During the 2011 winter season, it was highly expected to have cold weather in the morning and the evening, and during the day to be a bit sunny. As February approached, many were already beginning to welcome the spring weather and beginning preparations for what the season had to bring; that was until everything changed. On February 3rd, 2011, Laredo experienced an icy occurrence causing many accidents, the closing of schools and an unforgettable experience to be remembered. The media had already announced the prediction of snow and the low temperatures that Laredo would experience the week ending Sunday, February 6th.  The whole adventure began Wednesday morning, when the temperatures went down to 30 degrees. The closure of Alexander High School was announced in the media early in the morning, and Laredo Community College morning classes were cancelled. LCC expected to resume their schedule at 2:00 in the afternoon, but later announced the closure of campus for the remainder of the day and the following, due to the harsh weather conditions and the power outages. Texas A&M International University also announced the closure of the university due to the same reasons.

Despite the whole weather incidents, Catholic schools, TAMIU, the United Independent School District, and the Laredo Independent School District were expected to operate at normal school hours on Thursday. Around 5 in the afternoon, Laredo started experiencing the falling of miniature ice flakes. At 7 in the evening, TAMIU decided to cancel the classes for the evening due to expected harsh weather. At nighttime, the icy flakes started causing dramatic effects: windshields to frozen solid and traffic jams on the highway. The media warned not to use the highway because it was dangerous. The icy roads were causing accidents, and people had to scrape the ice off the glass in order to see. The ice caused the brakes not to function properly; traffic was uncontrollable. Vehicles were attempting to leave the highway, cutting in between cars. During the thirty minutes of being on the highway, two cars were spotted on the side of the road stranded waiting for help. In the Mines Rd area, the highways were jammed by the tractor trailers not being able to move forward, some even jammed by their own weight.

The power outages affected even the HEB Plus and the stores on Shiloh. The sound of ambulances and police cars were very popular that night, and an accident, where a truck was flipped off the side of the curb was witnessed.

Classes for Friday were cancelled, later to resume their normal hours. Saturday and Monday classes were to operate regularly unless further announced.

For more information, you may contact Judith Rayo via email at Judith@dusty.tamiu.edu