Snow in Dallas: City prepares for winter weather later this week

DALLAS - The city of Dallas is bracing itself for the winter storm that will hit North Texas in a matter of days. The worst of the weather is predicted to come Thursday.

City officials gave an update on Tuesday regarding how its crews and various departments are preparing for the inclement weather.

Kevin Oden, Dallas' director of Emergency Management, said his team has been monitoring the forecast and anticipating the impacts. They are planning to increase staffing and provide daily updates over the next few days. 

"Take the time to prepare now as we have seen conditions can change quickly," he said. "Taking steps now can help families remain safe."

Aside from the people who live in Dallas, the city will have thousands of fans in town for the Cotton Bowl Friday. 

"I also want to mention that we are closely monitoring travel conditions into the city especially as we prepare to host fans and teams for the Cotton Bowl," said Oden. "Our priority is ensuring safe travel for the teams and their fans visiting Dallas and the Metroplex, allowing them to enjoy their time here safely."

Transportation, Travel and Road Conditions

Transportation and Public Works Director Gus Khankarli said his crews started treating city roadways and bridges with a brine solution on Monday.

Those crews will be out again in sand trucks beginning on Wednesday, monitoring road conditions and dumping sand in trouble spots. 

Clearing roads later this week will be prioritized based on the proximity to critical buildings and major roads. 

"We are starting to bring in staff [Wednesday] and will go on 12-hour operations per shift," explained Ghassan Khankarlli with the city’s public works department.

Dallas Fire-Rescue will handle salt distribution. Firefighters will work to clear accidents on the roadways and help with emergency transportation needs.

Public works crews will be on standby to help with any stoplights or road signs that may be affected by the storm or power outages.

The city of Dallas also owns Love Field. Aviation department officials are urging passengers to get to the airport at least two hours early and to prepare for possible delays.

"We do have several trucks and trailers and over 40,000 gallons of de-icer on hand," said Lauren Rounds, with Dallas Love Field.

Warming Shelters

Dallas has already opened a temporary shelter for the homeless at Fair Park.

Office of Homeless Solutions Director Christine Crossley said the shelter opened three days ago and is now nearly full.

A second shelter will open at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the old Austin Street Shelter building located at 2929 Hickory Street. A third shelter location will be announced if needed so that everyone is safe.

"It is ADA-accessible. If you cannot reach it on your own, we will come and get you. Pets are not a barrier," Crossley said.

Crossley said some of the city's rec centers are also handing out cold weather packs filled with things like hand warmers, hats, gloves, and socks.

"We really encourage people to come inside. This weather is really dangerous. But if you are going to stay outside, please get one of these cold weather packs. They're your best chance for survival," she said.

Trash Collection

The city's sanitation department is implementing its winter weather plan. That means crews will only report to work on Thursday and Friday if conditions safely allow.

Residents whose trash is collected on Thursday and Friday will be notified if crews are not able to collect their garbage because of unsafe road conditions.

"Due to the potential weather and resource constraints, there may be delays or postponements. Routes serviced by automated trucks may be able to operate as planned while routes requiring manual labor could experience additional delays," said Sanitation Director Clifton Cillespie.

Animal Shelters

Dallas Animal Services said it is preparing for an increase in calls about animals being left out in the cold.

"We will have staff out 24/7 monitoring and responding to these calls. And we do want to make it known that for some pets, this weather is built into their systems, such as Huskies and so forth. So, if you see those types of animals out there, it may not be a concern as they're built for that type of weather. But for all others, please make sure that you're calling 311," said Paul Ramon with DAS.

Animal control officers have responded to nearly 60 weather-related calls since Sunday.

Dallas Weather Forecast

Winter storm watches are in effect for most of North Texas until Friday night as the freezing temperatures continue, and significant snow accumulation is expected.

Current forecasts suggest the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex will get between 2 and 4 inches of the white stuff between Thursday and Friday.

MORE: Winter storm watch issued, freezing temps continue and snow likely Thursday

How to Prepare for a Winter Storm

With freezing temperatures in the forecast, it’s important to protect the four P’s: Pipes, Pets, Plants, and People. 

Cover your pipes and plants, bring your pets indoors, and make sure that all of your neighbors and loved ones can safely stay warm.

"Check on loved ones, particularly any elderly or those that might have any access or functional needs to ensure that they have what they need to be safe and warm," Oden said. "Second is pipes. Please protect any exposed pipes from freezing by wrapping them and letting faucets drip to prevent breaks. Third is your pets. We encourage residents where possible to bring in pets indoors to provide adequate shelter. And finally plants. Cover any plants that may be sensitive to the freezing weather."

Oden encouraged all residents to take the time to prepare now.

"Taking proactive steps today and tomorrow will significantly help folks and their families remain safe," he said.

You'll also want to turn off automatic sprinklers and make sure you know where your water shut-off valve is located in case of an emergency.

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