Ice Coming: Get Ready for School, Business Closings

SAN ANGELO, TX — Anticipated wintery weather Tuesday morning will close or delay the opening of schools and businesses the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The first to close is always Paint Rock ISD. Late this morning Superintendent Ron Cline announced Paint Rock ISD schools will be closed tomorrow for inclement weather.

A winter weather and freeze warning for Tom Green County was issued by the National Weather Service San Angelo office. The freeze warning starts at 7 p.m. Monday night and extends through 1 p.m. Tuesday. The NWS forecasts sub-freezing temperatures between 28 and 32 degrees F. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing, the NWS stated.

The second winter weather advisory is for a possibility of freezing rain and sleet across the Big Country around Abilene, the Concho Valley around San Angelo, and portions of the Heartland tonight into Wednesday morning.

Freezing rain and sleet are expected. Total ice accumulations around one-tenth of an inch, the NWS reported. This advisory is in effect from 7 p.m. Monday night until 7 a.m. Tuesday morning.

“A strong cold front has moved through the area, ushering in much colder temperatures. Temperatures are falling below freezing across the Big Country, Concho Valley, and portions of the Heartland and will create the potential for freezing rain and sleet to occur, resulting in ice accumulations on elevated surfaces, overpasses, and possibly other roads and highways,” the NWS reported.

Tonight, there is a chance of rain showers before 1 a.m. Oct. 27, then rain showers, freezing rain, and sleet ensue with temperatures around 32 degrees F. Winds will be out of the north to northeast at speeds around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90 percent overnight. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch is possible. However, little or no sleet accumulation expected, said the NWS.

NWS drew a winter storm warning line, above which predicting the most ice, from Sterling City to Abilene to Albany. Below that line, from Ozona to San Angelo to Brownwood is a winter weather advisory.

At Paint Rock ISD, Superintendent Cline stated, “Due to expected inclement weather, the Paint Rock Independent School District will NOT be having school on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. All extra-curricular activities and events scheduled for the evenings of Monday, October 26, 2020, and Tuesday, October 27, 2020, are cancelled. No afterschool practices on Monday, October 26, 2020, or Tuesday, October 27, 2020.”

“Classes and buses will resume as normal on Wednesday, October 28, 2020,” Cline stated.

Zoom classes have already been canceled, Cline added.

For schools or businesses to report closings, please email them to [email protected], or text them to (214) 893-6791.