Southeast Texas is under its first-ever blizzard warning – one that reaches from the Golden Triangle, which includes Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange, out east into Louisiana, home to what is normally one of the busiest throughways in all of Texas, Interstate 10.
Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick joined the Standard with an update on what the area is seeing on Tuesday.
This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity:
Texas Standard: Well, I hear they’re calling this winter event a once-in-a-lifetime event for y’all. What are you actually seeing as you look out the window?
Jeff Branick: Well, we’ve got several inches of snow. I haven’t measured them. They’re covering up the courthouse parking lot and ground. The snow is still coming down, and it’s blowing sideways. That’s something we haven’t seen in a number of years.
As a matter of fact, I think our snowfall record was set way back in 1895, and I think we had a second one, which we may break. The No. 2 snowfall event was in 1960, and we may break that snowfall record, which I think was 4.5 inches.
I think blizzard and obviously I think high winds. How’s that complicating things for you there?
Well, fortunately for us, I went driving around about an hour ago and there was very few vehicles on the road. So people are heeding the advice to stay off the roads. The people that I did see on the roadways were driving one-third or below of the normal posted speed limits.
We’re a real industrialized area, and we provide significant portions of the jet fuel and aviation fuel and diesel for the United States. And so many of those facilities are shut down, operating with essential personnel.
» MORE: Worried about power outages in Texas during this winter storm? Here’s what to know.
So obviously, it’s not business as usual. And you don’t have to worry so much about semis jackknifing and that kind of thing. Although have you had any of those sorts of reports, and do you have any equipment that can help you deal with this?
Yes. TxDOT has brought in some snow plows from the Abilene area of the state. They’re down here assisting on the state roadways, primarily on Interstate 10, to try to keep that artery of commerce open. And our road and bridge crews with the county are assisting TxDOT with the maintainers on some of the state roadways to try to clear snow off of them.
Our local Entergy utility has done a great job so far. Only had about 216 power outages. And we haven’t even determined yet whether or not those were due to high winds or whether they’re just due to breakers tripping because of too many heaters plugged in or something.
Snow removal operations continue within the Beaumont District.
This is at IH-10 westbound near SH 62 in Orange County.
For the latest road conditions, please visit https://t.co/nsB9tyrqKC #KnowBeforeYouGo #BeSafeDriveSmart pic.twitter.com/Kvp5Zj4pxJ— TxDOT-Beaumont (@TxDOTBeaumont) January 21, 2025
Of course, as you get snow melt later on and in the hours ahead, could start seeing refreeze and perhaps branches coming down and that sort of thing. I guess you’re ready for that?
That is the biggest concern as we head into night is some clearing this afternoon with some slight melting in the snow and then temperatures going into the teens overnight and creating black ice and other more dangerous conditions on the roadways.
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You know, I’m thinking a lot of people where you are have never seen this kind of weather. How are folks reacting there?
Well, I think there’s kind of a combination of excitement and awe and just fear at never having seen anything like this before. This wouldn’t be a big deal if it were people in Canada or Alaska. But, you know, down here where we don’t have the studs or chains on our tires.
And this is such an infrequent event – you know, just every 20 to 50 years – we’re not prepared for it. We don’t know how to drive on it. So, you know, the best thing, obviously, is for people to stay home.
