Wednesday updates:
The Fort Worth Independent School District announced Wednesday afternoon that it will be closed on Thursday.
Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County is providing beds in its emergency overflow shelter Wednesday night for residents seeking a warm place to escape the winter weather. Those in need of shelter can go to 1321 E Lancaster Ave.
With North Texas under an ice storm warning, Tarrant County will delay opening until 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2
The National Weather Service said road conditions across the County are expected to deteriorate overnight but should improve as the day progresses on Thursday.
Idea Public Schools announced the following campuses will be closed on Thursday: IDEA Tarrant County; IDEA Achieve; IDEA Edgecliff; IDEA Rise; IDEA Southeast.
The National Weather Service is forecasting up to 0.5 inches of ice to accumulate on roads, with conditions expected to worsen Wednesday night and into Thursday morning thanks to additional freezing rain. Officials are urging drivers to stay off the roads and prepare for potential power outages caused by fallen trees.
Freezing rain poses unique risks as opposed to sleet, which is a mix of ice pellets, rain and snow, Hunter Reeves, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Dallas-Fort Worth office, said. Sleet is initially easier for drivers to navigate because ice pellets add texture to the street and traction for tires, he said.
“As you drive over sleet over and over again, it begins to pack the ice down, and it basically makes it into a sheet of ice,” Reeves said. “With freezing rain, it’s glazing that layer as soon as it makes contact. That’s what makes freezing rain so much worse.”
While temperatures are expected to rise above freezing Feb. 2, the morning commute will be impacted by remaining ice. Snow is possible across North Texas that afternoon and evening, according to the current forecast.
“We’ll finally see road conditions significantly improved by Friday because the sun will be out and we’ll be back into the upper 40s, maybe even low 50s,” Reeves said.
Want to know about area power outages and how many people are affected? Check out this handy site.
Trinity Metro continues to closely monitor the winter weather’s impact on road conditions and to modify services as needed for the safety of its customers and staff, according to a news release issued Wednesday morning.
All bus and zipzone services are temporarily suspended, and updates will be announced as road conditions are assessed, according to the release.
Trinity Metro Access will continue to provide scheduled life-sustaining trips but delays could be possible.
Customers who are traveling and impacted by winter weather service schedule changes are encouraged to arrange a guaranteed ride home by calling customer care at 817-215-8600. Specific trip inquiries can also be directed to customer care as conditions are changing rapidly.
Trinity Metro TEXRail and Trinity Railway Express will operate on regular weekday schedules Wednesday, but passengers may experience weather-related delays.
The National Weather Service has issued an Ice warning through Thursday. Read more here.
How did Fort Worth handle the first day of the winter blast? Read our story here.
The Fort Worth Independent School District is supposed to make a decision on whether classes resume on Thursday sometime this afternoon. Stay tuned.
Tuesday evening: Winter weather is leaving its mark on travel plans and local businesses as Fort Worth adjusted to a snowy Wednesday.
More than 1,600 flights have been canceled flying to and from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, according to the flight tracking website, flightaware.com. At Dallas Love Field Airport, 600 flights to and from the airport have been canceled.
American Airlines canceled 883 flights between Jan. 30-31, wrote Gianna Urgo, a spokesperson for the company, in an email to the Fort Worth Report. Most flights were canceled in advance to avoid last-minute disruptions, Urgo wrote.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop by request of American Airlines.
Both Southwest Airlines, based in Dallas, and American Airlines in Fort Worth issued travel advisories for those traveling through Dallas and Fort Worth with information on how to rebook flights.
Food bank closes
The Tarrant Area Food Bank is closed because of the road conditions, Julie Butner, president of the food bank, said. On a typical day, the food bank operates 18 vehicles to distribute to about 500 partners across the 13 counties the organization serves.
Stopping operations is a business decision to keep employees safe, Butner said. Many people who use the food bank get food ahead of time when expecting severe weather, she said.
“If you are anticipating inclement weather, you get to the grocery store, you get enough groceries to last you for the days that you’re anticipating the inclement weather is going to keep you homebound,” Butner said. “Our community members that utilize our services handle inclement weather very much in the same way.”
Butner also said they work with partner organizations to distribute food early. She anticipates the food bank will reopen on Thursday, and follows weather and school districts for updates to make a decision.
Businesses impacted by ice
Renfro Foods, located at 815 Stella St., typically produces several thousand jars of salsa weekly. Its production plan for the week originally called for the company to do most of its production Tuesday and Wednesday. Looking at the weather reports, company officials quickly decided to move that production to Thursday and Friday.
Part of that decision was driven by the fact that its glass bottle supplier couldn’t guarantee the truck with the glass jars could make it, said Doug Renfro, president of the 83-year-old family-owned salsa manufacturer.
“That helped our decision-making process because we can’t fill the salsa into little Ziploc baggies,” he said.
Renfro Foods typically follows whatever the Fort Worth Independent School District says when the weather is bad. “Thankfully, around dinnertime last night (Monday), they said they definitely were not having class tomorrow,” he said.
Renfro was pleased that the weather forecasters were on the mark this time.
“What messes us up is when it comes out of nowhere or we hunker down and then nothing happens and you lose productivity for no reason,” he said. “It feels good for once to be like, ‘Yep, we made the right decision.’”
The storm included a bang
Earlier, sleet arrived with a thunder clap Tuesday morning, bringing at least two days of sleet, winter weather warnings and treacherous road conditions in Tarrant County.
A winter storm warning will remain in effect through at least 6 a.m. Feb. 2. The National Weather Service anticipates total ice or sleet accumulations between .25 inches and .5 inches, with bursts of heavier sleet closer to one inch in some areas.
Officials urged residents to stay home unless they have an emergency because of the icy road conditions that made some bridges, overpasses and roads impassable.
As of 5 a.m. Jan. 31 — 24 hours into the storm and before thunderstorms hit most of North Texas — MedStar ambulances in the Fort Worth area already had responded to 142 motor vehicle collisions, eight hypothermia patients and nine patients injured in falls from slipping on ice.
Sarah Barnes, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Dallas-Fort Worth forecasting office, said the forecast has evolved considerably during the past several days. The National Weather Service originally expected more freezing rain but the conditions have produced more sleet, or a mix of ice pellets, rain and snow.
“Here in the Metroplex, we often find ourselves right on the dividing line between rain and winter precipitation,” Barnes said. “That freezing line right across our area ended up being colder than it originally looked like it would be, and that had a big effect.”
Barnes expects the region to remain clear of storms until Wednesday morning, when another round of freezing rain is expected in the morning and midday. Once that clears across the Metroplex, more rain is expected Thursday, she said.
The National Weather Service will push out forecast updates through social media and winter weather alerts. Drivers can check road condition updates at DriveTexas.org.
A truck drives on the Chisholm Trail Parkway on Jan. 31. Transportation and roads will be significantly impacted, according to the National Weather Service. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
People continue to drive on icy Fort Worth roads on Jan. 31. Transportation and roads will be significantly impacted, according to the National Weather Service. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
C. P. Hadley Park in South Fort Worth is completely covered in snow on Jan. 31. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
No one plays at a playground at snow-covered C. P. Hadley Park in South Fort Worth on Jan. 31. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
A Fort Worth neighborhood is frozen over on Jan. 31. Overnight “thundersleet” storms covered the city in snow. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
Ducks swim in a creek at C. P. Hadley Park in South Fort Worth. The National Weather Service suggests staying home, if possible. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
C. P. Hadley Park in South Fort Worth is covered in snow. Fort Worth saw lows of 25 degrees Fahrenheit on Jan. 31 and will see lows of 20 degrees through Feb. 2. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report) 
A bench at C. P. Hadley Park in South Fort Worth is frosted over on Jan. 31. According to the National Weather Service, travel conditions will continue to worsen and travel should be avoided through Wednesday. (Cristian ArguetaSoto | Fort Worth Report)
Local government
As freezing rain, sleet and freezing temperatures stormed its way Tuesday into Tarrant County, officials urged residents to stay home if at all possible.
While ice and sleet now covers much of the region, the city of Fort Worth is still urging residents to stay off the roads. The city is pausing services like trash collection while warming centers and emergency lines are opening in response to the storm.
Residents may sign up for emergency alerts here. The service keeps residents informed about potential hazards.
The city of Fort Worth canceled its council meeting and Tarrant County scratched its commissioners court meetings Tuesday. However many city and county services remain open.
Because of the ongoing winter storm, all Tarrant County governmental buildings will be closed on Wednesday, Feb. 1.
“With the updated weather forecast calling for more freezing precipitation through Wednesday, Tarrant County will be closed on Feb. 1,” said Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare. “I urge everyone to stay home, take appropriate precautions and only travel when necessary. Tarrant County will continue to monitor this weather event and take appropriate action as needed.”
Road updates
With freezing rain and sleet still in the forecast, Fort Worth roads are becoming slicker as low temperatures stick around.
Fort Worth road crews have sanded and cleared 593 roads across the city, as of 11 a.m. Crews have disbursed 360 tons of salt and sand mixture, materials costing the city a total of about $15,600 to treat roads, according to Kevin Neal, a communications specialist with the city of Fort Worth.
Road crews were not immune to slick conditions. At around 3:30 a.m on Serenity Hill Drive, a transportation and public works truck was damaged in a roll over. Two people were in the truck and no one was injured. The sand spilled from the truck was spread out over the bridge, Neal said.
The city currently has 13 trucks out treating roads. Transportation and public works employees have been working on 12-hour shifts since 9:30 a.m., Jan. 30.
TEXpress lanes are closed until further notice, according to the city.
The city is prioritizing the bridges and overpasses that receive the most traffic. After that, crews will focus on hills. Finally, in coordination with Fort Worth’s joint emergency operation command, crews will treat the entrances to hospitals and warming centers.
To request service or report issues
You may report water main breaks or other issues to the city in a variety of ways:
- Through the MyFW app
- The city’s website
- Through the city call center: 817-392-1234
- Through the water utility call center: 817-392-4477
Waste collection
All residential collections are canceled Tuesday. All garbage, recycling, yard and bulk waste will be rescheduled for collection Tuesday, Feb. 7. Residents are allowed four additional bags next to the garbage cart for collection. Waste collection will also be canceled Wednesday, collection will be delayed until the following Wednesday, Feb. 8.
If your garbage did not get collected Monday, Jan. 30, it will be collected Monday, Feb. 6. Residents will also be allowed four additional bags.
The southeast landfill and materials recovery facility closed early Monday and will remain closed Tuesday. The four drop-off stations and the Environmental Collection Center will also be closed.
There will be no yard waste collections through Sunday, Feb. 12.
Water utilities
The city’s water utility ramps up during extreme weather events. The water department is standing by to respond to any incident that could hurt the city’s ability to deliver water to residents. The city’s response was updated after several water treatment facilities went down during Winter Storm Uri in 2021.
If you notice a broken water main or burst pipe, you should call 817-392-4477. The city will either repair the main or shut off water to your home to prevent damage from the burst pipe.
Residents who live in apartments and don’t have water should contact apartment management because the issue might be private plumbing lines.
Here’s where you can get warm
Community centers will be open as warming centers Tuesday and Wednesday. However, the city does not have an updated list of what community centers and libraries will remain open. The city urges residents to call their nearby centers and libraries to ensure their location is open.
Want text alerts about cold-weather shelters?
To receive text alerts about Fort Worth cold-weather shelters, text FWCOLD to 817-241-3544.
To receive text alerts about Arlington cold-weather shelters, text ARLCOLD to 817-241-3544.
For more information about shelters in Tarrant County, visit the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition’s website.
The city’s emergency homeless shelter is activated. The Flag Building, 1100 E. Lancaster Ave., is open. People without housing should go there to seek shelter from the storm.
Other city services closed
Library locations are closed until further notice. Several neighborhood services workshops have been rescheduled, the Homeowners Workshop scheduled for MLK Community Center has been rescheduled to Feb. 7. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites will not open as scheduled on Tuesday.
Recreational facilities such as golf courses and the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge will be closed Tuesday.
Fort Worth municipal court in-person dockets on Wednesday and Thursday will be canceled and rescheduled for a future date. TEXpress lanes are closed until further notice.
What will remain open?
North Animal Campus and Silcox Adoption Center will be open and operating as usual. You may report pets in distress through the MyFW app or the city’s call center: 817-392-1234.
As of 10 a.m Tuesday, Jan. 31, all Trinity Metro bus services were operating on a modified schedule. Trinity Metro TEXRail and Trinity Railway Express (TRE) were operating on regular weekday schedules.
Development-related services will remain available virtually through Wednesday. In-person services will resume at 8 a.m. Thursday.
Stock Show and Rodeo
It is not the stock show’s first rodeo, nor is it its first time dealing with winter weather.
“When you have an event in January and February in Fort Worth, Texas, you’re going to occasionally encounter ice or snow. That’s just the fact of life. We’ve been holding the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo now for 126 years. (The weather) today isn’t unlike a similar day we had actually the same week, probably the same day last year,” Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Communications Director Matt Brockman said.
Brockman said that crews were putting sand on sidewalks and roads and that the stock show and the city were working closely together to keep the grounds safe and accessible to guests.
“Our facilities were designed and constructed to accommodate a lot of livestock, whether that weather is 70 and balmy or in the 20s with some ice on the ground,” he said. “We’re moving our junior steers in this morning. Our junior barrows moved in yesterday, so those shows and preparations for those shows are both well underway. We’re not expecting any challenges or difficulties. Everything’s in place and moving forward.”
The pole bending competition for today was moved up from 5 p.m. to 2 p.m., but, other than that, all events will continue as planned.
If anything does change, those updates will be noted on the stock show’s website.
Kristen Barton, Rachel Behrndt, Marcheta Fornoff , Haley Samsel, Alexis Allison, Seth Bodine and Bob Francis all contributed to this report.
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