I20 thru Texas in December

You'll more than likely have smooth sailing across I-20 in Texas. Yes a weather system may come in but it won't last long. Maybe overnight.

Unpredictable. Even when a storm system is known to be coming through the area, they can't say 12 hours ahead whether it will be windy and dry, wet, snowy, or coat everything with ice.

Statistical risk of storms shutting down the road for snow or ice in a given winter month are probably less than once every five years, but I've seen it happen three times in one winter. I-20 is more likely to be closed for wind conditions, west of Dallas, than for precipitation.

I-10 is less likely to ice up than I-20, but going to Houston maybe 10 times in the winter over a 30 year period, I've been iced into my hotel room twice. That's not even where I10 gets its winter weather. I-10 is subject to winter conditions around where I-20 ends and you end up on I-10 anyway.At that point, you are crossing the Rockies. Not as high as in Colorado, Montana, or Alberta, but it is still the Rockies, lifting air masses and making them dump moisture.

Either way, you get freezing something on the road, they close it, you stop a day or two waiting for it to melt or be cleared, then you go on.

Hi from AZ. . . we call I-20 the 'Southern Route". I've done it several times in Winter (Jan usually) and have had no weather problems. We prefer I-40 for AZ to ATL, but it gets iffy in the Winter, so we use I-20. It's a pretty boring, UNscenic route. We've had some cold, but nothing to stall the trip., regards, Craig

ntar827 wrote:
2112

Not asking for a prediction.

Just guesses as to likely hood based on experiences.

My guess is it will be cold in Amarillo! It seems to always be cold in Amarillo.

Other than that? Who knows.

ntar827 wrote:
2112

Not asking for a prediction.

Just guesses as to likely hood based on experiences.

A prediction is basically an educated guess.

A guess would be that you'll probably be fine.

A prediction would be going back the last 100 years to look at weather data, computer models, etc....realizing that this is Texas and things can change within a day so all your time and effort will be wasted and after all that factored that in and then say you would probably be fine to drive it.

I have lived here for 43 years, I have seen a massive snowstorm in October in West Texas, I have seen the sky pink because of big sandstorms and I have seen winters with no snow and mild temps, to winters with decent snowfall. I remember the 1980 heatwave with over 69 days of 100+ temps.

We have been in a drought for the last 4+ years, so I would guess that it's gonna be a mild winter and you would have safe travels.



weather

ntar827 wrote:
2112

Not asking for a prediction.

Just guesses as to likely hood based on experiences.

I20 higher chance of ice than I10 between Louisiana and Junction Texas as I said before

2112

Not asking for a prediction.

Just guesses as to likely hood based on experiences.

Texas road conditions

There is absolutely no way to predict with any certainty what the weather will be. They have been predicting an El Nino for Texas this fall with an increased rain, and I'm still waiting for that to happen.

I've seen weather change within a matter of a few hours and within a few miles. In theory, I-10 would be a safer bet, but more than likely, if it's bad enough to impact I-20, then chances are it will be bad enough to impact I-10. Chances are you'll be fine.

North Texas storm data

As 2112 said....there is no predictability of the weather in this area. It may be a balmy 50 degrees one day and by 4AM the next day it may be sleeting and icy. I would think the further south you go the better.

I can't help but laugh at this.
You are asking us to predict the weather 2 months away when the pro's can't do it beyond 10 day's. They are more wrong than right beyond three day's.

I'm sorry to make fun of this but there is NO WAY anyone in the world can tell you what the road conditions will be on I20 through Texas between 12/20 and 12/31.

We have a saying down here, if you don't like the weather in Texas stay around, it will change.