When planning a construction timeline, the Texas Department of Transportation estimates crews will work an average of 16-17 days per month, TxDOT spokesperson Diann Hodges said. Additional days are set aside to account for unfavorable weather conditions and weekends.

According to TxDOT, construction projects are most often affected by rain. However, severe events—such as flooding or a hurricane—high winds, lightning, hail and extreme temperatures can also halt construction.

As construction crews cannot work in muddy conditions, the ground and materials must dry before construction can resume. A half-inch of rain could delay projects with a large amount of earthwork for three or more days, Hodges said.

Cold temperatures and rain can also delay concrete and hot mix asphalt projects, as the projects require warm temperatures, Hodges said. However, work often resumes the next day as the pavement dries or the weather warms.