A new winter storm is sweeping across part of the country. It is expected to last until Thursday and has caused complications in several states. Many have had to cancel thousands of flights and put road travel at risk.
However, Fox News reported that Texas is undoubtedly the hardest hit state. According to the American network, Southwest Airlines and American Airlines were forced to cancel dozens of flights in the northern part of the region due to the likelihood of freezing rain.
According to the website FlightAware, 34% of all flights scheduled to depart Dallas Fort Worth International Airport today were canceled, while Austin Bergstrom International Airport canceled 26% and Dallas Love Field Airport had to cancel 24% of outbound flights.
Road travel also poses a risk across the state. The New York Times reported that a quarter inch of ice is expected to accumulate from West Texas to West Tennessee. This amount of ice, according to the National Weather Service, presents several risks:
This amount of ice will likely lead to tree damage and scattered power outages across the hardest-hit regions. Sleet accumulations around a half-inch or locally higher are also possible from West Texas to Arkansas, which can also lead to treacherous travel.
Storm forces Dallas and Austin to cancel classes
The weather also caused the Dallas Independent School District to cancel classes on Tuesday. The New York Times says that the decision affected more than 150,000 students who were supposed to go to school. In addition, Mayor Eric Johnson, asked his citizens to stay off the roads.
First tip: don’t drive on icy roads. Period. Not worth it.
But if you absolutely must be on the roads: pic.twitter.com/CavCBqtPsQ
— Office of Mayor Eric Johnson (@DallasMayor) January 31, 2023
Austin also announced that it was canceling classes across the city on Tuesday. In addition, the city assured that it would provide shelter for the homeless to protect them from the cold for the next few days:
Cold weather shelters will be open overnight on Monday and Tuesday, January 30 and 31.
Go to the One Texas Center (OTC), 505 Barton Springs Road from 6 - 8 p.m. to register for overnight shelter. More information here: https://t.co/I4t6PIyTFj pic.twitter.com/vIY7QxdRGa
— Austin Public Health (@AusPublicHealth) January 30, 2023
Texas is not the only state affected by the storm. Arkansas and Tennessee also prepared for the arrival of the storm. Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. said the Arkansas capital asked Public Works crews to work 12-hour shifts:
Public Works Operations sent the full night shift inclement weather crews home this morning and they will report to work at 8pm and then work until 6am Tuesday. The day shift inclement weather crews on Tuesday will report to work at 6am and work until 6pm. #LRwx
— Frank Scott, Jr. (@FrankScottJr) January 30, 2023
The New York Times reported that Nashville schools will open two hours later due to forecasts that predicted freezing rain on Tuesday.
