GALVESTON, Texas – Galveston County is preparing now for the wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet forecast for Tuesday.
While rare, Galveston isn't immune to severe winter weather. Just over nine years ago, the whole beach was covered in snow.
On Christmas Eve 2004, kids flocked to the beach not to play in the sand, but to play in the snow.
"Galveston had enough snow to build snowmen on the beach," said meteorologist Dan Reilly, with the National Weather Service Houston/Galveston Office.
Galveston received 4 inches of snow that day.
Fast forward to the present, we have another big winter event on the way. In anticipation of the severe weather, schools in Galveston County already started to cancel school and activities for Tuesday, including Galveston ISD.
The Galveston County Emergency Management team is warning drivers to stay home if you can.
"If you don't have to be on the roads, don't be on the roads," urged David Popoff, Chief Mgt. Coordinator for Galveston County. "It's just not a good idea."
The county's road and bridge department have restocked their sand supplies and will start to throw down the chat rock on the roads once the storm moves into the county Tuesday. They are asking for help from drivers to keep the roads safe.
"We need to warn the public to lower their speed because going at a high speed over bridges will tend to shale or kick off the aggregate that we place," said Lee Crowder, Manager for Galveston County Roads and Bridges.
The Texas Department of Transportation sprayed the state highways and interstates in anticipation of the storm. They will be paying extra attention to the 2-mile long Galveston Island Causeway.
If you do have to get out and drive on the potentially dangerous roads, you are urged to drive slowly and leave space between you and the other cars.
The City of Galveston announced Monday that City Hall will be closed. Island Transit will not be running off or on the island.