Sunday forecast for Fort Worth & North Texas: 2 to 3 inches of snow possible this week
To read the updated forecast for Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, click here.
Weather forecast models are showing an increasing likelihood of snow or ice in North Texas on Thursday and Friday.
While the forecast remains in flux, National Weather Service meteorologists in Fort Worth say models are leaning toward a rain/snow mix over much of North and Central Texas starting Thursday morning and continuing into Friday.
Meanwhile, North Texans awoke Sunday to a ferocious blast of Arctic air with gusty winds to 40 mph. Sunday night and Monday morning will see lows in the 20s or teens, a frigid pattern that will continue all week.
Here’s the latest on what you should know ahead of this week’s winter blast.
What are the chances of snow in Fort Worth?
As of Sunday evening, the National Weather Service said “there is now a 70-80% chance that our entire forecast area observes at least measurable snowfall” Wednesday through Friday morning.
A shift of a few degrees by Thursday could diminish the chances of snow in Fort Worth.
“Again, the forecast at this moment does favor wintry precipitation over North and Central Texas and potentially some larger snowfall accumulations in the Thursday-Friday time frame,” the weather service said. “In the next couple of days, we will start to get some help from additional medium-range model guidance and hopefully we can obtain a clearer vision on how this event will unfold.”
How much snow could Fort Worth and North Texas get?
Heavier snow of 2 to 3 inches could blanket the Interstate 20 and Interstate 30 corridors, the weather service said.
But that will depend on the track of an upper-level low moving into West Texas around Wednesday.
“As you all know, most Texas winter weather events are a game of just a few degrees and radically different outcomes can occur with just slightly colder or slightly warmer temperatures,” the weather service said. “This event will be no different.”
How cold will it be in North Texas this week?
The front that moved into North Texas on Sunday morning will bring the coldest air so far this season during the next few nights, starting Sunday night.
Overnight lows will drop into the teens and lower 20s. Wind chills will drop into the single digits and low teens Sunday night. The National Weather Service issued a cold weather advisory for Sunday night into Monday morning.
Monday’s highs in Fort Worth will be in the 30s or lower 40s with winds of 10 to 15 mph. Tuesday night and Wednesday night could be in the teens along the Red River with highs in the mid-30s to mid-40s.
“It is becoming increasingly likely that a few locations north of I-20 and across the Big Country will struggle to get above freezing on Wednesday,” the weather service warns. “This could put further strain on any vulnerable and unprotected pipes, so prepare accordingly!”
Will Fort Worth schools close for cold, snow or ice?
No announcement has been made by Fort Worth ISD as schools prepare to reopen Tuesday after the Christmas break. After a light snowfall and arctic blast on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend last year, many North Texas school districts closed and cited frigid temperatures.
Fort Worth schools usually start to consider delays or cancellations at least 24 hours in advance of winter weather. Announcements of schedule changes come no later than 5 a.m. on that day.
Read more about how Fort Worth schools handle winter weather here.
Are North Texas highways prepared for ice?
If you drove around this weekend, you may have noticed that major highways have been treated, including Interstate 35W and North Texas toll roads.
Texas Department of Transportation said crews applied brine on roads, bridges and overpasses Friday ahead of the freezing temperatures.
How to prepare your home for the cold
As the Arctic air makes its way in to the DFW area, so do the chances of burst pipes and frozen water lines.
The City of Fort Worth’s water department recommends insulating your outdoor pipes and disconnecting hoses from outdoor faucets.
The Texas Department of State Health Services also recommends keeping a supply kit for any kind of natural disaster.
What are ERCOT, Oncor saying about the power supply?
Teams have been deployed to assist with downed lines caused by high winds in the area Sunday, officials with Oncor Electric Delivery said on Facebook Sunday.
Wind speeds could reach up to 30 miles per hour, with gusts up to 40 miles per hour, according to officials with the Fort Worth office of the National Weather Service.
If you see a downed line, leave the area and call 911 immediately, Oncor officials said.
There is enough power available to meet demand as of Sunday afternoon, according to online data from ERCOT, the state’s electric grid operator.
ERCOT officials issued a weather watch for the area that will last Jan. 6 through Jan. 10, according to a news release from the organization.
A weather watch is a notification of conditions that will create higher electrical demand and the potential for lower electrical reserves, according to the statement.
“ERCOT is monitoring conditions closely and will deploy all available tools to manage the grid, continuing a reliability-first approach to operations,” the statement reads.
Where are warming stations in Tarrant County?
Charities, churches and city facilities have opened warming centers around the county as temperatures continue to plummet Sunday.
The Tarrant County Salvation Army is operating an overnight warming station in Arlington at its Arlington Corps Community Center, located at 712 W. Abram Street.
In Fort Worth, the Salvation Army’s J.E. and L.E. Mabee Social Service Center will also serve as an overnight warming station.
That center is located at 1855 E. Lancaster Avenue in Fort Worth.
Emergency shelters in the city of Fort Worth are prepared to serve individuals and families in the cold, officials said.
This story is developing and will be updated.
This story was originally published January 5, 2025 at 10:13 AM.
