Dangerous road conditions grow worse in North Texas winter storm Saturday
Travel conditions continue to worsen in North Texas on Saturday as a massive Arctic cold front brings sleet and freezing rain. Temperatures are hovering around 20 degrees.
National Weather Service meteorologist Allison Prater called the storm an ongoing event with precipitation coming in rounds until mid-morning Sunday. So far the greatest impact from the storm has been deteriorating road conditions, she said.
The forecast calls for up to a quarter inch of ice and 3 inches of sleet in the Fort Worth area. Areas near the Red River have been the most impacted by precipitation, according to Prater, with more than three inches of sleet being reported near the Oklahoma border.
Temperatures, which were hovering around 32 early Saturday, have been falling rapidly. Prater warned that the below freezing temperatures are expected to last through Tuesday. Wind chills could get as low as -12 degrees.
Sleet is in the works for Saturday night and will likely turn to snow early Sunday, according to the NWS.
TxDOT crews have been working around the clock to apply de-icers and plow sleet off the roadways, according to Texas Department of Transportation spokesperson Val Lopez. They are giving special attention to bridges and overpasses.
“The weather this weekend will cause dangerous conditions,” Lopez said. “Staying off of roads is the safest option.”
Lopez recommends that those who have to be out allow extra time to reach their destination and keep plenty of space between themselves and other drivers. Updates on road conditions across the state can be found at drivetexas.org.
Around 10 accidents were reported on Fort Worth roads between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Saturday, according to police.
“We want to thank the essential travelers for staying slow and safe on our roadways,” Police Department spokesperson Officer Buddy Calzada said. “Please encourage everyone to maintain the safe travels and only get out as needed as weather conditions continue to get colder.”
This story was originally published January 24, 2026 at 11:50 AM.
