Another round of frigid temperatures, freezing rain and layered ice coated North Texas Wednesday during the second winter storm this month, but weather authorities say relief is set to roll in by Thursday evening.
The winter storm warning, which started early Wednesday, is still in effect through 6 p.m. Thursday for much of North Texas, including Collin, Dallas, Denton, Rockwall and Tarrant counties, with wintry precipitation expected to create up to a quarter-inch of ice in Dallas-Fort Worth amid a high of only 34 degrees and a low of 26.
The storm brought North Texas roads back to a slippery state — Dallas police had already responded to more than 360 calls about traffic accidents by 5 p.m. Wednesday. Fort Worth-based MedStar said they responded to a total of 77 accidents, 250% more than usual, along with 17 falls from ice and nine cold-exposure calls.
Travel conditions will be most hazardous in North Texas through about noon Thursday, the National Weather Service said, with widespread freezing rain in the morning making for icy and treacherous commutes.
Good morning! Freezing drizzle/rain will be widespread this morning making for icy and hazardous travel areawide. The good news is that precip ends from west to east midday into the afternoon hours with a slow improvement to travel conditions mid to late afternoon. #dfwwx #ctxwx pic.twitter.com/kQvNKHzsIy
— NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) February 24, 2022
“The good news,” the weather service said, is that precipitation will end by Thursday afternoon and allow for a slow improvement to travel conditions by Thursday evening as temperatures rise above freezing, hitting the low 40s by Friday and the high 50s by Sunday.
Slick roads, accidents continue
There will be “icy and hazardous travel, especially on bridges and overpasses,” Thursday morning, the weather service said.
KXAS-TV (NBC5) meteorologist Grant Johnson tweeted the freezing drizzle got “heavier” starting about 6:30 a.m. and would only compound poor driving conditions, including slick main roads.
The freezing drizzle has gotten heavier across DFW over the past 30-40 minutes. This is compounding the icy problems, especially bridges and elevated roads, but even some main roads too are quite slick. #NBCDFWWeather https://t.co/pQGQV73Pii pic.twitter.com/yB2Y9gT5wQ
— Grant Johnston (@GrantJNBC5) February 24, 2022
TxDOT districts across the region said they were patrolling and plowing highways overnight Wednesday and into early Thursday morning, including Interstates 20 and 45.
Still, multiple accidents were reported by departments across North Texas. Fort Worth police spokesman Capt. Shawn Stone said just before 6 a.m. that the department had not yet seen more accidents than usual but said traffic was steadily increasing.
Dallas police Maj. Paul Junger urged residents stay home if possible, adding there is a limited number of available tow trucks, particularly for freeway crashes. If traveling is necessary, drive slowly.
“Leave plenty of time, plenty of space and pack plenty of patience,” Junger said.
Power outages
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages the state’s power grid, said Wednesday that it anticipates tight grid conditions through Friday because of the weather. As of Thursday morning, ERCOT said there was enough power to meet the demand.
Oncor was also not reporting widespread power outages as of 6:35 a.m.
Additional closures, cancellations
School districts across the region canceled classes Thursday as North Texas remains under a winter storm warning, with rain forecast to turn into ice overnight. Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco and Allen ISDs were among the dozens of districts to call off school. No districts reported closures for Friday.
DART announced that it will limit service through Thursday. Rail operations will be suspended, and bus routes will be on a Sunday schedule from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
At DFW International Airport, more than 900 departures and arrivals were canceled Wednesday and another 700 were canceled for Thursday. About 100 flights were canceled at Dallas Love Field.
Parkland Health said that all of its clinics and its testing center would be closed Thursday.
Counties around North Texas said they would be closing early-voting locations Thursday. Voting hours may be extended on other days, but the last day of early voting — Friday — cannot be moved later.
The latest forecast from NBC5:
Thursday: 34/26, freezing drizzle
Friday: 43/34, scattered showers
Saturday: 46/33, scattered showers
Sunday: 58/33, partly cloudy
Monday: 62/42, mostly sunny
