The Latest: Ice storm warning for Fort Worth area to make travel on roads ‘nearly impossible’
Here’s the latest on the winter storm hitting North Texas. Check back for updates throughout the day, and sign up to get breaking news alerts here.
The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning for Tarrant and 13 other North Texas counties from 6 a.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday, officials said. Dallas County will continue under a winter storm warning, with more of a mix of sleet and freezing rain in the forecast.
Hunter Reeves from the National Weather Service in Fort Worth said the areas affected by the ice storm could see up to half an inch of freezing rain Wednesday, making the roads extremely treacherous. As ice accumulates, power outages and tree damage are more likely, Reeves said.
According to Reeves, the freezing rain could start after 6 a.m. and will ramp up around noon. More is expected Wednesday evening.
The ice storm warning says that travel could become “nearly impossible” Wednesday.
Temperatures are expected to remain in the upper 20s throughout the day.
David Bonnette, a spokesperson for the National Weather Service in Fort Worth, said temperatures stayed below freezing all day Tuesday, and any water that has fallen on the roads is now frozen.
“Roads are pretty treacherous,” he said.
And road conditions are expected to deteriorate, according to the National Weather Service. Travel will being impacted through at least Wednesday night.
Bonnette said officials are advising people to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. For those who have to be out and about, Bonnette said to give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination and leave plenty of space between yourself and the other vehicles.
Thundersleet was reported in some areas Tuesday, including Fort Worth. Isolated thunderstorms were accompanied by bursts of accumulating sleet and freezing rain across North and Central Texas.
Reeves said conditions will start to improve Thursday, when temperatures will be back in the 40s. Rain is in the forecast Thursday, too, according to Reeves, but the temperature won’t get low enough for it to freeze. On Friday temperatures will reach into the 50s.
“Bear through it and there should be some good on the other side,” Reeves said.
7:33 AM: Moderate band of sleet moving through the Metroplex and areas west and east. There could be some freezing rain falling in this too. Road conditions are just going to get worse today. Please use caution if you are out driving, slow down and allow extra travel time. #dfwwx pic.twitter.com/khq8Wmbsg1
— NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) January 31, 2023
School closings
Many school districts in the Fort Worth area, including Fort Worth ISD, are closed through at least Wednesday.
Fort Worth ISD continues to monitor weather conditions and communicate with the National Weather Service and local agencies, the district said.
Road conditions
Most major highway surrounding Fort Worth have been covered in ice, according to a TxDOT map of road conditions that is updated at drivetexas.org.
As of early Tuesday morning, MedStar ambulances had responded to 142 motor vehicle accidents in North Texas, including 16 rollover crashes. Major crashes with dozens of injured people transported to hospitals have been reported across the region.
Power outages
There was a low to medium risk of ice damage to power lines and trees Tuesday. To report an outage to Oncor, text OUT to 66267, use the MyOncor app, or select “Report an Outage” on the website. You may also call 888-313-4747 to report your outage. Oncor was reporting about 13,000 customers without electricity as of 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Flight cancellations at DFW, Love Field airports
About 800 flights to and from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field were canceled as of Tuesday morning.
All it takes is a little ice to kill
Nearly two years ago, it was a patch of thin ice on Interstate 35W’s toll lanes in Fort Worth that caused more than 130 cars and trucks to crash in a horrific pileup that killed six people.
Recently released documents say people were driving an average of 100 mph just before the February 2021 disaster.
Rescuers spoke to the Star-Telegram on the anniversary last year. By chance, one paramedic was stopped on icy I-35W when the first cars slammed into each other. Then another, and another, and another, until cars and trucks were smashed into twisted piles of metal. When the crashing stopped, it was eerily quiet. Then came the panicked cries.
Another paramedic reflected: “How many people there had Starbucks cups and wouldn’t be there if they hadn’t stopped? Whose alarms didn’t go off, so they were late leaving? A lot of those cars were still in drive and connected to Bluetooth. Some wheels were still turning. You could hear phones ringing, people calling them. Radios were still on. It was like a scene from an apocalyptic movie.”
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