HOUSTON — The Houston metropolitan area endured an extraordinarily congested Tuesday, February 24, 2026, with emergency responders managing 768 traffic incidents throughout the day, including 505 major crashes that created widespread delays across multiple counties.
Harris County bore the brunt of the day's traffic chaos, accounting for 716 of the reported incidents, while Fort Bend County reported 38 incidents. Montgomery and Galveston counties each recorded seven incidents. The high volume of crashes suggests hazardous driving conditions throughout the region, with incidents concentrated heavily during the evening hours beginning around 8 p.m. and continuing through midnight.
Among the most significant incidents was a major crash on IH-610 North Loop Eastbound at IH-45 North reported at 11:47 p.m., followed by a non-fatal crash on Interstate 69 South near Montrose Boulevard. A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle at the I-610 East and I-45 North interchange, and multiple non-fatal crashes were reported on the South Freeway in both directions. Additional major incidents included a motorcycle crash at Clarewood Drive and multiple collisions on Almeda Road that created extended backups.
In light of Tuesday's treacherous conditions, traffic officials urge Houston-area motorists to exercise extreme caution during peak driving hours, reduce speeds in adverse conditions, maintain safe following distances, and remain alert for emergency vehicles. Drivers are advised to utilize real-time traffic applications and consider alternative routes when possible to avoid congested corridors.
Houston Area
Multiple County, Texas
This report was produced by LTA's editor-designed production system under the executive editorial direction of Dennis R. Mundy, Executive Editor. The system combines our proprietary data pipeline with AI-assisted drafting to deliver verified incident coverage to LTA's editorial standards.