Dallas-Fort Value set for snowstorm that would put ‘main stress’ on infrastructure, restrict journey

Updated on Friday at 4:30 pm: Revised to include a disaster statement from Governor Greg Abbott.

The North Texans were preparing for what may be the largest snow storm in the region in years on Friday.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for all of North Texas late Saturday through Monday. The warning – which includes counties of Dallas, Denton, Collin and Tarrant – warned that north Texas could see piles of 3 to 6 inches of snow with some light ice from Sunday evening to Monday morning.

The warning was updated by a winter storm clock on Friday afternoon as forecast models indicated a greater chance of a major snow storm that weekend.

“Travel is becoming dangerous,” the weather service said in a statement. “The heavy snowfall and the predicted long duration of extremely cold temperatures will likely result in heavy loads on the region’s infrastructure and crippling trips for several days.”

According to Grant Johnston, a meteorologist for KXAS-TV (NBC5), North Texas could see a short round of a wintry mix late Saturday, but any buildup is expected to remain low.

Things can (and will) change. However, this is an early look at the snowfall potential for late Sunday through Monday. So yes, this map can be “optimized after tweeting” in subsequent model runs. 😆 It looks like there is significant snow going on for NTX. #NBCDFWWeather pic.twitter.com/whk5VPQS74

– Grant Johnston (@ GrantJNBC5) February 12, 2021

The main event is expected on late Sunday, when heavy, blowing snow can make driving conditions dangerous and when the wind chill can drop to -15 degrees, according to the weather service.

“You have to prepare for a big winter storm for what it looks like,” said Johnston. “We could talk near blizzard conditions with high winds, dangerous cold air and accumulation … This looks like it is going to be a great winter whale.”

Early next week, the lows are expected to be in the teenage and single digits, and according to Johnston, North Texas could see another round of snow on Wednesday.

Before the storm, Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for all Texas counties. Several government funds have been used to assist in response to the storm, including the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Department of Military, and others.

“Texas should follow the directions of its local guides and be aware of changing weather conditions in their area,” Abbott said in a written statement. “These resources will help us respond to this severe winter weather and protect our communities.”

“Prepare a little more”

Across the region, some North Texans spent part of Friday preparing for a cold weekend.

Although she didn’t see herself as a panic buyer, Edith Huerta picked up some essentials at the El Rancho supermarket in Old East Dallas on Friday morning.

It has been more than five years since north Texas saw significant snowfall. Dallas-Fort Worth recorded 3.5 inches between March 4 and March 5, 2015, according to the Weather Service.

Snow covered downtown Dallas after a record snowfall on Thursday, March 5, 2015. Overnight snow and sleet covered the area overnight, accumulating up to 2 to 5 inches over much of the area. (Smiley N. Pool / The Dallas Morning News) [ 2015 PUB – 2015MARCH ] 03072015xALDIA(Smiley N. Pool / Employee Photographer)

Danielle Chiveya said she remembered that last blizzard well – she had to move during it.

The move was only supposed to take a 20-minute drive through Dallas, but it took about 14 hours and finally ended around 2 a.m. on March 5, Chiveya said.

“It took me all day to drive,” said Chiveya.

While shopping for groceries on Friday morning, Chiveya said she felt ready for the blizzard this time – she had to be.

Chiveya is a nurse and is supposed to work on Monday morning. She plans to be there, even if it means leaving home two hours early for a trip that typically takes 10 minutes.

“I’ll take care of it,” said Chiveya. “If I don’t get there, my patients won’t get injections.”

Edith Huerta supplies herself with essential groceries on her way to the storm weekend in North Texas while shopping at the Supermercado El Rancho on Gaston Avenue in Dallas on Thursday, February 11, 2021. A winter storm warning was issued for the North Texas region this weekend. (Lynda M. González / The Dallas Morning News)(Lynda M. González / employee photographer)

Chef James Rowland, owner of Carver Park in northeast Dallas, was also more concerned with the work than the snow.

With most of the snow expected to fall on Sunday, Rowland expects his business to thrive on Valentine’s Day – usually one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants. Rowland said he was also concerned about being able to drive to work after the snowfall.

“Monday is going to be a big day,” said Rowland.

Rowland, who picked up eggs and noodles for his restaurant Friday morning, said he noticed some North Texans were already preparing for the blizzard

Almost every day of the week Rowland said he was picking up the Tom Thumb off US Highway 75 and Meadow Road. While there wasn’t a maddening rush of panic buyers in the store on Friday, Rowland did notice that some shelves were a little emptier than usual.

“In a sense, yes, you prepare a little more,” Rowland said.

With temperatures not likely to be above freezing until the end of next week and with possibly more snow in the forecast on Wednesday, it may take some time for buildups to clear.

The weather service warned in a statement that travel could be difficult until mid to late next week.

Dallas-Fort Worth had been below freezing for 64 hours on Friday noon. The record for most consecutive hours below freezing in North Texas was set in 1983 when the area stayed 295 hours below 32 degrees from the morning of December 18 to the afternoon of December 30, according to the weather service.

The 1983 record was supposed to stay intact, but by next week, North Texas could have stayed below freezing for more than 200 hours.

Shelby Mower, 22, took her two dogs to the Meadows Foundation dog park that afternoon to tire them out before night. Mower, who had moved from Utah to Dallas a few months ago, hadn’t expected temperatures to drop that much.

“I’m used to the cold weather, but I wasn’t prepared for it at all and left all my coats in Utah,” she said.

Taylor Luis, 26, left a destination on Haskell Avenue with her fiancé Friday afternoon. They filled up with groceries and “lots” of Valentine’s Day chocolate to keep them tucked away all weekend.

Originally from Michigan, Luis said she was used to the cold but still got her heavy coats out of camp to be “ready for the cold”.

To protect themselves from the coronavirus and to stay warm, the couple plan to stay on Valentine’s Day and enjoy a homemade steak.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hub Operations

Dallas County: The county Fair Park Vaccination Center is open only at certain times on Fridays from 2pm to 7pm. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkin tweeted around 12:30 p.m. that the center was opening a little earlier due to the better weather.

The district health department said in a tweet that on Friday the center will only vaccinate people who are due for their second dose. Only people who were scheduled for their second dose Monday through Thursday will be served in the center, the district said.

People who should get their second dose on Friday will be turned away when they show up on site today, the district said. If weather permits, the county said it would reopen on Sunday to vaccinate people who were due for their second dose on Friday.

Due to the unexpectedly better weather, we were able to open this morning. Things are going very well @ Fairpark . We’re vaccinating second shots indoors today only for those whose second shot was due Monday through Thursday. We have heated buses to take you from your car to the building. 🇺🇸

– Clay Jenkins (@JudgeClayJ) February 12, 2021

Tarrant County: Tarrant County Public Health announced in a tweet Wednesday evening that vaccination clinics will be open to people with scheduled appointments on Friday. COVID-19 test sites remains closed from Friday to Monday.

Collin County: Vaccine appointments originally scheduled for Friday at Plano’s John Clark Stadium have been postponed. the county said. Affected patients will be contacted by Curative Medical Associates. The Collin County government offices become one Late opening on Friday at 10 a.m.

Denton County: The county said in a tweet Tuesday that the county vaccination clinic at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth is open by appointment only from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday. The vaccinations originally planned for Thursday have been postponed to Friday, the district said.

Parkland Health & Hospital System: The vaccination sites at Ellis Davis Field House and Eastfield Community College in Mesquite are closed Thursday through Monday. said the hospital. Individuals with appointments for these locations should go to Parkland Memorial Hospital at the scheduled time, and anyone who couldn’t make it should be contacted by Parkland.

Testing sites at Sam Tasby Middle School in Dallas, the Irving Health Center, and the West Dallas Multipurpose Center were closed Thursday through Monday, Parkland said.

Valeria Olivares contributed to this report.