Winter storm Uri brings snow to North Texas. But it also brings special dangers.
Fort Worth woke to a winter wonderland on Sunday, with more snow on the way as Winter Storm Uri hit North Texas.
The storm will likely bring 3-6 inches of snow across the region through early Monday, with wind chill values below zero. The National Weather Service warned people to watch out for hypothermia, frost bite, dangerous driving conditions and power outages.
As the snow picked up Sunday evening, the weather service issued a winter storm warning through 9 a.m. Monday and a wind chill warning through noon Tuesday. Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the White House issued a Federal Emergency Declaration for Texas in response to the severe winter weather throughout the state. FEMA will provide emergency protective measures for mass care and sheltering and Direct Federal Assistance for Texas counties.
From 6 a.m. Monday to 6 p.m. Tuesday, dangerous wind chills between minus-20 and minus-10 are possible. Tuesday is expected to be dry with high temperatures in the low 20s, but snow and a wintry mix will likely return late Tuesday into Wednesday, with additional accumulations of 1-3 inches. The temperature is not forecast to go above freezing until Friday when it pushes into the low 40s.
Despite the dangers of the winter weather, some Fort Worth residents made the most of the unprecedented snowfall. Families made snowmen in the front yard, pet owners introduced their dogs to the snow and kids created sleds out of cardboard boxes.
In the Near Southside neighborhood, Sara Herrera and Tony Kopetchny tossed snowballs at 8-year-old Lucia Kopetchny. The family moved to Texas in July from Washington D.C. as Herrera returned to the state after 23 years away, and did not expect to see snowfall again so soon.
“We are absolutely floored with the snow this weekend,” she said, standing in the front lawn in a bright yellow coat and blue beanie. “But we’re embracing it, we love it. And we’re glad we still have all of our snow gear.”
Lucia used a flattened cardboard box to slide down the small slope in the yard, leaving a mixture of dirt and snow in her wake. Kopetchny and Herrera scooped snow from a pile and dropped it onto the sledding path. The family was playing outside in 15-minute increments to keep from getting too cold.
“It’s a different type of winter coldness than the East Coast,” Herrera said, laughing. “It gets into your bones and into your soul.”
To prevent frostbite and hypothermia, the Centers for Disease Control also recommends:
- Wear gloves/mittens, hats, scarves and snow boots. Dress in several layers of loose-fitting clothing, and cover your face and mouth if possible.
- Stay dry, and if you become wet, remove wet clothing immediately.
- Limit your time outdoors.
- Do not ignore shivering. It’s an important first sign that the body is losing heat. Persistent shivering is a signal to return indoors.
Seven-year-old Vivien Connalley also had good advice for staying warm on Sunday as she and her twin brother, Max, walked to Daggett Middle School with their parents to go sledding. They walked on the sidewalk behind their parents, Ian and Tammy, each carrying half of an orange sled that had been broken down the middle
“Masks don’t only protect you from viruses, but they keep your mouth warm!” she said.
Although the Connalley family’s tankless water heater froze due to the cold, their primary concern Sunday afternoon was finding the best slopes in the Near Southside neighborhood. They headed for the middle school, pausing as Max made “snow souffles” in his sled — the recipe for which appeared to be about a sled-ful of snow to be consumed immediately with gloved hands.
Ian and Tammy Connalley said the last time the twins played in the snow was a few weeks ago when they drove to Burleson, and before that when they visited Colorado when they were 2 years old.
To try and keep their pipes from freezing, the couple set up space heaters near the pipes and kept water trickling from the faucets. The American Red Cross recommends doing both to prevent frozen pipes, along with various other tips, including:
- Consider installing specific products made to insulate water pipes like a “pipe sleeve” or installing UL-listed “heat tape,” “heat cable,” or similar materials on exposed water pipes.
- Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
- Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night.
- Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials).
Staying warm with no power
MedStar in Fort Worth was prioritizing calls relating to people outside, according to a news release.
The National Weather Service and MedStar also issued tips for staying safe in the dangerous weather.
Risks of power outages will increase as snowfall and possible heavy winds continue through the early part of the week.
- The National Weather Service advises people who lose power to close blinds and curtains to contain the heat. Placing towels, blankets or rags underneath doors to keep hot air from escaping though gaps can also help maintain heat.
- Try to eat and drink regularly so your body will continue producing heat, but avoid alcohol and caffeine. Wearing layers of loose-fitting, lightweight warm clothes can help you stay warm by trapping body heat around you.
- Finally, closing doors to all rooms can help avoid wasting heat.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is asking consumers and businesses to reduce their electricity use as much as possible Sunday through Tuesday, according to a news release.
“We are experiencing record-breaking electric demand due to the extreme cold temperatures that have gripped Texas,” said ERCOT President and CEO Bill Magness. “At the same time, we are dealing with higher-than-normal generation outages due to frozen wind turbines and limited natural gas supplies available to generating units. We are asking Texans to take some simple, safe steps to lower their energy use during this time.”
Here are some tips to reduce electricity use:
- Turn down thermostats to 68 degrees.
- Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and appliances.
- Avoid using large appliances (i.e., ovens, washing machines, etc.).
- Businesses should minimize the use of electric lighting and electricity-consuming equipment as much as possible.
- Large consumers of electricity should consider shutting down or reducing non-essential production processes.
Given the prolonged, below-freezing temperatures, conservation measures should be implemented safely and within reason, If power reserves drop too low, ERCOT may need to declare an Energy Emergency Alert, which allows the grid operator to take advantage of additional resources that are only available during scarcity conditions. There are three levels of alerts, and rotating power outages are only implemented as a last resort to maintain reliability of the electric system, the release said.
Driving safely
A 100-car pileup in Fort Worth on Thursday before sunrise left six dead and underlined the dangers of driving on icy roads.
The National Weather Service urged people to avoid driving unless they absolutely have to. Roads were already packed with ice and snow on Sunday, the service warned.
As of 7:30 a.m Sunday, MedStar in Fort Worth responded to six major vehicle collisions on all area highways since midnight, according to a release from the ambulance service.
- For folks who do have to get out on roads in the coming days, driving slowly and leaving plenty of space between you and other vehicles can save your life.
- Accelerate slowly from a full stop. If you have the ability to select your gear, the National Weather Service advises starting from second gear. If your vehicle begins to skid, gently steer into the skid direction to get your vehicle back under control.
- Stay calm and resist the urge to jerk the steering wheel in the other direction.
- Take blankets, water, jumper cables, a tow cable and a flashlight with you in case you become stranded. Bringing along sand, kitty litter or cardboard can give you traction you need if you get stuck.
Protect against carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning is increasingly risky when people are using gas to heat their homes.
To avoid poisoning, which can lead to death, MedStar said nobody should use stoves or ovens to heat their homes.
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when carbon monoxide builds up in the bloodstream, replacing oxygen. It leads to tissue damage and possibly death. Because carbon monoxide is colorless and naturally odorless and tasteless, making it hard to detect.
Do not sit in a tightly sealed or small space with a space heater, stove, oven or any kind of engine that is gas-powered. That increases your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to MedStar.
Watch out for the signs and symptoms:
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Dull headache
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Confusion
- Blurred vision
- Loss of consciousness
Make sure your carbon monoxide detectors are working and keep a batter powered detector near every area where your sleep. Check detectors regularly to make sure they are working and never use a gas-powered generator indoors.
This story was originally published February 14, 2021 at 12:09 PM.