Summary (tl;dr)

A major winter storm has forced widespread school closures across North and Central Texas, including Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin areas, with many districts remaining closed through Tuesday and some extending closures into Wednesday due to treacherous icy conditions.

Essential Background

Starting late last week and intensifying over the weekend, a severe winter storm swept across a significant portion of Texas, bringing freezing rain, sleet, and snow. Temperatures plummeted well below freezing, resulting in widespread icy and dangerous road conditions, prompting Texas Governor Greg Abbott to declare a disaster for 134 counties across the state.

The Full Story

School districts throughout North and Central Texas, including Dallas ISD, Fort Worth ISD, Denton ISD, Austin ISD, Leander ISD, Arlington ISD, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, and Melissa ISD, announced extensive closures for Monday, January 26, and Tuesday, January 27, citing hazardous winter weather and icy roads. Some districts, like Melissa ISD, have further extended their closures through Wednesday, January 28, anticipating continued unsafe travel conditions due to ongoing ice accumulation, freezing fog, and overnight freezing temperatures. While main interstates and highways have seen some improvements, many secondary and neighborhood streets remain perilous, with temperatures expected to drop below freezing again overnight, potentially creating more icy patches for Wednesday morning. The storm has also led to significant disruptions, including over 6,700 flight cancellations and delays at major Texas airports, and left thousands without power.

Why It Matters

The extensive school closures are causing considerable disruption for families, necessitating alternative childcare arrangements and impacting daily routines. The primary concern for school districts remains the safety of students and staff amidst dangerous travel conditions. The persistent icy roads and freezing temperatures highlight the severe impact of this winter storm on local infrastructure, transportation, and daily life across a broad region of Texas.

Geographic Location

• Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, United States (widespread school closures, hazardous road conditions due to winter storm)
• Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, United States (widespread school closures, hazardous road conditions due to winter storm)
• Denton, Denton County, Texas, United States (school closures due to winter weather)
• Austin, Travis County, Texas, United States (widespread school closures, hazardous road conditions due to winter storm)
• Leander, Travis County, Texas, United States (school closures due to winter weather)
• Arlington, Tarrant County, Texas, United States (school closures due to freezing temperatures and hazardous roadways)
• Hurst-Euless-Bedford area, Tarrant County, Texas, United States (school closures due to extreme cold and hazardous travel conditions)
• Melissa, Collin County, Texas, United States (school closures due to ice accumulation, freezing fog, and freezing temperatures)