Heat and moisture are becoming a dangerous combination for roads in the Panhandle.
The high temperatures combined with moisture in asphalt cracks are causing road blow-ups, a phenomenon that occurs when water from the winter months stores in the asphalt cracks and then expands when met with hot temperatures. As it expands, the water pushes through the asphalt and eventually finds a weak spot where it then breaks through to the surface.
TxDOT Spokesperson Paul Braun said this occurrence is unpredictable.
"The problem is we never know where they're going to happen," he said. "So our crews are constantly patrolling the highways and freeways that we are responsible for and looking for these blow-ups in hot weather like this."
Braun pointed out anyone driving can put their eyes to good use and report road blow-ups so they can be repaired right away and traffic accidents can be avoided.
"We take them very seriously and we close off the roadway as soon as we can to avoid anything like that. We can't get to them right away so, motorists, you need to look out for these kind of things and if you see something that needs our attention, please call us."
StormSearch7 Meteorologist Tony Derda said the temperature on the surface of the asphalt is around 130 degrees, and until the cooler weather of the upcoming months approaches, the phenomenon will continue to be a problem.
"The intense solar radiation will start decreasing as we decrease the hours and the minutes of actual sunlight," he said. "But we still have a long, hot August anticipated ahead of us, so it'll be a while before we can really alleviate the intense heating that we might still get."
To report a road blow-up, contact the local Texas Department of Transportation at 806-356-3256.
For more information on road conditions, go to www.dot.state.tx.us.
