After A Very Cold Night, Temperatures Climb Into The 40s Today

NOTE: This is a weather blog from Feb. 2 and 3. For the latest on the snow that's falling on North Texas on Thursday, Feb. 6, click here.

Update, 7:30 a.m. Monday:  Several outlying school districts have canceled school today – this includes Sherman ISD, Denison ISD, Bridgeport ISD and Decatur ISD. But schools closer to Dallas-Fort Worth are holding class today. Check with your local school district for more details. Or check WFAA-TV’s closings website. Or check KXAS-TV’s site.

Light freezing drizzle is a possibility this morning across parts of Dallas-Fort Worth, especially areas southwest of the metro area. But freezing drizzle could reach southwest Dallas County and much of Tarrant County. Freezing drizzle is more likely between Waco and Comanche, the National Weather Service reports.

If you’re traveling northwest of Dallas-Fort Worth, be prepared for ice-covered roads, particularly from Graham to Bowie, the weather service says.

On Sunday, up to two inches of snow and sleet fell across parts of North Texas, while up to 10 inches of snow fell across parts of West Texas.

Overcast skies prevented temperatures from falling into the upper teens northwest of the metro area – temps ran six to eight degrees warmer than expected, the weather service says. Still, temperatures dipped below freezing overnight throughout much of North Texas.

By this afternoon, we'll warm up into the low 40s across Dallas-Fort Worth.

Tonight, expect lows above freezing for much of North Texas – around 36 degrees at D/FW International Airport and perhaps into the upper 30s in some areas. One-tenth of an inch of rain is expected overnight, but since temperatures will stay above freezing, that rain won’t turn into ice.

In weather-related news, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol says three people were killed in a multiple-vehicle crash on an icy bridge connecting Oklahoma and Texas.
 
The highway patrol says the crash happened Sunday night on the U.S. 69/U.S. 75 bridge crossing the Red River, the Associated Press reports. According to a preliminary report, 40-year-old Juan Garcia was driving an SUV with eight other passengers when he lost control of his vehicle on the icy bridge.
 
The highway patrol says Garcia struck the inside railing of the bridge, then bounced across the roadway and struck the outside bridge railing. His SUV was then struck by two oncoming tractor-trailers.
 
Garcia was killed in the crash, along with a passenger, 70-year-old Anita Lucio Mayorga. An unidentified juvenile passenger was also killed in the crash. All three were from Miami, Okla.

Update, 4:10 p.m. Sunday: The wintry precipitation is ending across North Texas, although areas east and northeast of Dallas-Fort Worth will continue to see some sleet and snow.

The National Weather Service has canceled its winter storm warning. Instead, a winter weather advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. for Denton and Collin counties, as well as counties along the Texas-Oklahoma border.

While the precip moves out, the cold temperatures are sticking around.

Tonight, expect lows below freezing -- in the mid-20s -- across Dallas-Fort Worth. That means that any water that’s on the ground will freeze. That could prove problematic for areas north and west of Dallas-Fort Worth that received sleet, snow or freezing rain earlier today. But the impact to Dallas-Fort Worth will be minimal, the weather service says.

We’ll climb into the low 40s Monday.  There’s a chance of rain Monday night and Tuesday.

Update, 1:10 p.m. Sunday: Moderate to heavy sleet was falling across western Parker County and parts of Wise County as of 12:30 p.m., the National Weather Service reports.

A winter storm warning has been expanded to include Parker County.

Expect more precipitation to fall across Dallas-Fort Worth as we head into the afternoon. The weather service is predicting a mix of rain, freezing rain and sleet. At 1 p.m., the weather service reported that the chance for sleet is "more favorable." The western half of the metro will likely see heavier sleet mixed with rain through 3 p.m. -- that includes Tarrant and Denton counties. That will lead to slick spots on the roads.

Dallas, Collin and Rockwall counties -- and areas to the east -- are more likely to see rain.

Little ice accumulation is expected in the metro area, the weather service says. As of 1 p.m., temperatures were above 32 degrees in Dallas and Fort Worth.

As of 1 p.m., all runways and taxiways at D/FW International Airport remain open and operational, airport officials report. The airport announced earlier today that 280 departing flights had been canceled -- that number hasn't changed.

TxDOT's Fort Worth office reports that some highways in Tarrant County are covered with slush.

Update, 10:20 a.m. Sunday: You might want to stay indoors today if you can – North Texas is going to get hit with another wintry blast. Perhaps we should call it Snow Bowl Sunday.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory until 9 p.m. for much of North Texas.

All of North Texas will get hit – ranging from a light icy glaze to 4 inches of snow, although areas north and west of Dallas-Fort Worth will experience the worst of it. Dallas-Fort Worth won't get inches of snow; instead, expect freezing rain and icy bridges and overpasses.

A band of moderate to heavy sleet is falling from Possum Kingdom Lake northeast to Jacksboro and Bowie.

D/FW International Airport is reporting 280 departure cancellations, or about 30 percent of the airport's schedule, as well as 20 departure delays.

The city of Dallas reports that its Ice Force Level 1 sanding operation starts at noon. That means 30 sanding trucks and 70 workers will monitor bridges, overpasses and inclines.

Winter blast -- what to expect where:

• Areas north and west of Dallas-Fort Worth will be hardest hit – north of a line from Breckenridge to Sherman, the weather service says. Expect 2 to 4 inches of snow, with some sleet and freezing rain. All roads will likely be affected, the weather service warns.
• Counties closer in to Dallas-Fort Worth, including northwest Tarrant County and Denton County, as well as Parker and Wise counties, could get up to 2 inches of snow, along with sleet and freezing rain.
• For most of Dallas and Tarrant counties, as well as Collin and Johnson counties, expect freezing rain. Up to one-tenth of an inch of ice is possible. Bridges and overpasses will probably become slick this afternoon.
• Areas to the south and east of Dallas-Fort Worth will escape the brunt of the storm. Still, folks in Ellis, Kaufman, Hill and Hunt counties should expect a light coating of ice on elevated surfaces.

On the roads

Texas Department of Transportation's Dallas office reports that some highways in Denton and Collin counties have been pre-treated. TxDOT crews are patrolling and looking for icy spots, ready to treat roads as conditions deteriorate. TxDOT warns to "use caution on bridges and overpasses."

TxDOT's Fort Worth office says slushy conditions are being reported in Wise and Jack counties. Crews are treating bridges and overpasses.

TxDOT also offered updates from the following areas:

Wichita Falls/Henrietta: Crews started at 10 p.m. Saturday and will work 12-hour shifts Sunday. About a half-inch of snow covers sleet on highways. All trucks are out and plowing.
Gainesville: Some ice. Crews out plowing where needed.
Vernon: All crews out.
Bowie/Nocona: Sleet is accumulating on some roads and bridges. Crews are plowing and sanding.

At the airports

D/FW Airport reports:

If you're traveling on American Airlines today, and flying out of, through or into D/FW Airport, check out its southwest U.S. travel policy -- the airline says customers can change their plans and ticket reissue charges will be waived.