PR Newswire·Nov 10, 2026, 8:00 AM ET

Texas Winter Driving Alert: Record-Strength El Niño Threatens Roads

NOAA's 2026-27 Winter Outlook predicts wetter-than-normal conditions across the American South from December 2026 through February 2027.
A strengthening El Niño event has a greater than 83% chance of becoming the strongest on record since 1950.
The active southern jet stream associated with El Niño will likely bring colder & wetter weather to the southern United States.
Weather-related crashes account for nearly 745,000 incidents annually, resulting in over 3,800 fatalities.
Nearly one in five weather-related crashes occurs in sleet, snow, or freezing rain rather than rain.
Angel Reyes & Associates advises drivers to slow down, increase following distance, & avoid sudden steering or braking movements.
Drivers should watch for black ice on bridges & overpasses, which can appear wet initially.
Using cruise control on wet or slick roads is discouraged to ensure drivers can anticipate stopping needs.
Texas law requires drivers to adjust speed to road conditions, & failure to do so can result in liability for crashes.
Drivers involved in weather-related crashes should photograph the road & weather conditions at the scene as evidence.