Dallas-Fort Worth Winter Storm Alert: Forecast, Preparedness, and Safety Tips

Winter Weather Forecast for DFW

• ❄️ Freezing rain, sleet, and snow are expected in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with ice accumulation potentially reaching a quarter to half an inch, and 1 to 3 inches of snow/sleet mix in the metroplex, up to 3 to 5 inches along the Red River.
• ⏰ The wintry mix is anticipated to begin overnight tonight, continuing on and off through Saturday, with snow expected in the DFW area by Saturday evening and tapering off by Sunday morning.
• ⚠️ Northwestern counties are expected to see the changeover to wintry precipitation first, between 10 PM and 2 AM, with the rest of the metroplex experiencing it after midnight, and southeastern counties by mid-late morning Saturday.

Preparedness and Safety Measures

• 🏠 Residents are urged to prepare now for the incoming storm, ensuring homes, children, and pets are accounted for, as it will be too late to prepare on Saturday.
• 🛒 Grocery stores are experiencing high demand for essentials like bread, eggs, dairy, meat, and firewood, with shelves being picked over.
• 💧 A critical safety tip is to know how to shut off water at the customer shut-off valve or city meter to prevent damage from frozen pipes, and to open faucets to drain lines if leaving town.
• 💡 A DIY candle can be made with vegetable oil, rice, and a Q-tip for light in case of power outages.

Infrastructure and Community Support

• ⚡ The Texas power grid operator (ERCOT) has issued an advisory but expects sufficient power, with improvements like battery storage enhancing grid resiliency since 2021.
• 🆘 Shelters like the Austin Street Center are urgently seeking donations of blankets, non-perishable snacks, protein, water bottles, sweatpants (medium/large), and socks for the unhoused population.
• 🛣️ Public works crews in Arlington and Fort Worth are pre-treating major roads with brine and preparing equipment for a multi-day event, urging drivers to stay home if possible and exercise extreme caution if travel is necessary.
• 🌳 For trees, focus on deep watering the root system and avoiding water on the canopy to protect against ice weight, and be aware of hazards like lateral cracks and overextended limbs.

Official Response and Recommendations

• 🚨 Governor Greg Abbott has activated state emergency resources, with the National Guard ready to assist stranded drivers and the Texas A&M Forest Service prepared for snow and ice clearance.
• 🚗 Travel advisories recommend stocking vehicles with fuel, food, water, and blankets, and checking road conditions on DriveTexas.org.
• ⚠️ Motorists are warned to be aware of falling limbs and downed power lines, and to stay away from them. If power is lost, pick one room to stay in, cover extremities, seal the home, and keep eating and drinking water.
• 🐂 The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo will proceed as scheduled, but officials urge only necessary travel and advise attendees to be safe and warm, with indoor spaces available.