The National Weather Service says some parts of North Texas may see flurries Friday night, and much of the area is forecast to drop to freezing or below. With cold weather forecast, AAA is urging people to get cars ready for winter now instead of waiting for the potential of a major storm.
"Proper vehicle maintenance is so important going into winter because you don't want to have a roadside emergency," says AAA's Daniel Armbruster.
In the event of a roadside emergency or breakdown, Armbruster says a tow truck may take longer to reach you.
"Right now, the response time is usually 30 minutes to an hour for emergency roadside help, but if you contact during a winter storm, it could be several hours," he says. Armbruster says those delays are a combination of increased call volume as other cars break down or lose control and also the need for tow truck drivers to travel more slowly on icy roads.
AAA urges people to always keep a flashlight, batteries and first aid kit in the car. With cold weather forecast, Armbruster urges people to add warm clothing in case you wind up waiting for a tow truck.
"Anything to keep you warm, extra blankets, extra clothing," he says. "If your vehicle's not working, you're not going to have heat. That could be very dangerous after just ten or 20 minutes of being out in the cold."
North Texas is likely to only receive flurries and cold weather. Farther west, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for areas including Midland/Odessa, Big Spring and as far west as Van Horn.
TxDOT says crews are pretreating roads in Amarillo, Lubbock, Childress, Wichita Falls, Odessa, and El Paso. The agency says crews will also be available to respond if road conditions worsen.
With more people moving to Texas from other parts of the country, drivers may not be used to an area where temperatures may hover around freezing, leaving doubt about whether the road is icy or just wet.
"Even the speed limit on roadways with winter precipitation can be dangerous, so drive under the speed limit, give extra follow room for the vehicle in front of you and just make sure you're taking your time, your patience, have your headlights on so you're visible. Just make sure your vehicle is properly prepared," Armbruster says.
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