Dubai: The UAE Consulate in Houston issued a warning to Emiratis living in Texas after a winter storm brought temperatures to plummet to icy conditions.
Numerous road closures and accidents have been reported across the southern US as snow and icy conditions persist. Storm reports: https://t.co/GXeizTXi7D pic.twitter.com/0GGjgRaUW8
— AccuWeather (@breakingweather) January 16, 2018
The UAE Embassy advised UAE citizens in Houston to keep up-to-date on the weather’s activity, and to register for the online “My Presence” service, found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Emiratis, register for Twajudi service and get help from UAE government @MOFAUAE when abroad. https://t.co/KNwgoEM6hO#UAEMgov
— حكومة دولة الامارات (@UAEmGov) January 17, 2018
In the event of an emergency, UAE citizens can contact the consulate’s emergency phone line at +1 713 502 0206 or local police authorities at 911.
A Winter Storm Warning was in effect for most of Southeast Texas, with roads expected to thaw out late Wednesday morning into early afternoon.
ندعو مواطني الامارات المتواجدين في هيوستن بولاية تكساس بأخذ الحيطة والحذر من الامطار والصقيع المتوقع والذي سيشكل خطورة على التنقل حتى يوم الاربعاء. pic.twitter.com/NgiBEqCQj4
— UAE in Houston (@UAEinHouston) January 16, 2018
The temperature was recorded to have dropped to a range of -9 and -3 degrees Celsius, with heavy snow entering through the metropolitan areas of Alabama and Georgia.
Houston authorities reported that over 400 accidents occurred on Tuesday due to icy, "treacherous" roads. Heavy snow is now moving through the metro areas of Birmingham, AL and Atlanta, GA: https://t.co/fHsxWlZkSB pic.twitter.com/MyjEivChOY
— AccuWeather (@breakingweather) January 17, 2018
On Tuesday, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said that there were "well over 300 crashes", and said that roadway conditions will remain “treacherous throughout the region” until noon Wednesday.
Average number of traffic crashes in 24 hour period is about 226, today we’ve had well over 300 in a 9 hour period despite much lighter traffic after many folks heeded@SylvesterTurner warning. Roadway conditions remain treacherous throughout the region & will be until 1 p.m Wed.
— Chief Art Acevedo (@ArtAcevedo) January 17, 2018
The sub-zero temperature also caused the cancellation of more than 800 departure and arrival flights at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and over 200 cancellations at William. P. Hobby Airport in Houston, according to AccuWeather.
Although the sleet and snow have moved out of Houston, local authorities advised residents to take extra caution after the colder winds have caused the roads to re-freeze.
