Dangerous Road Conditions Expected as Winter Storm Hits San Antonio
Dangerous Road Conditions Expected as Winter Storm Hits San Antonio
San Antonio commuters and weekend travelers are urged to exercise extreme caution this Saturday, January 24, 2026. The National Weather Service has issued both a Winter Storm Warning and an Extreme Cold Warning for the metro area, effective throughout the day and into the evening. With freezing rain forecast to transition into sleet and ice accumulation likely on elevated surfaces and bridges, driving conditions are expected to deteriorate significantly as the day progresses.
Major Highway Construction Impacts
Despite the severe weather, critical infrastructure projects continue to affect traffic patterns across the city. On the Northwest Side, the Loop 1604 North Expansion project will see continued nightly closures. Specifically, the intersection of La Cantera Parkway at I-10, including U-turn lanes, is scheduled to close from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly through Sunday. These closures are necessary for ongoing bridge construction but may be subject to immediate change if ice accumulation poses a safety risk to work crews or makes the equipment difficult to operate.
On the Northeast Side, the I-35 Northeast Expansion (NEX) project remains active between North Walters Street and FM 1103. Drivers should expect intermittent lane closures and shifted traffic patterns in this corridor. While daytime traffic may move normally in most sections, the combination of existing roadwork and potential icing makes the I-35 corridor particularly hazardous today. TxDOT crews have already begun pretreating major interchanges and bridges with brine, but commuters are strongly advised to avoid overpasses and flyovers if possible.
Downtown Traffic and Event Alerts
Despite the winter weather threat, the Monster Jam event at the Alamodome is currently proceeding as scheduled for Saturday afternoon. This is expected to cause localized congestion in the downtown area, specifically along I-37 and the Cherry Street corridor. If you are planning to attend, allow for significant extra travel time and check for updates from event organizers regarding potential weather-related scheduling changes. The city has also announced that six overnight Resilience Hubs will open starting Saturday night to provide residents with warmth and power during the freeze.
Public Transit and Safety Services
- Fare-Free Rides: VIA Metropolitan Transit is offering fare-free rides for passengers traveling to or from city-operated Resilience Hubs and warming centers starting today through Monday, January 26. This includes locations at the Northeast Senior Center and Copernicus Community Center.
- Service Monitoring: VIA is currently monitoring road conditions and reports no planned widespread service disruptions yet. However, transit routes 21, 22, 32, 34, 36, and 42 are currently operating on detours due to various ongoing construction projects.
- Travel Advice: If you must be on the roads, keep a safety kit in your vehicle and maintain a significant following distance from other cars. Remember that bridges and overpasses freeze first.