By KERA News & Wire Services
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-949813.mp3
Dallas, TX – The National Weather Service in Fort Worth says the cold weather isn't going anywhere soon. Highs will only reach into the 20's Wednesday and Thursday and only up to freezing on Friday. Tuesday night temperatures will dip into the teens or single digits in some parts of North Texas.
The forecast calls for flurries Wednesday but not a lot of accumulation.
So, just how unusual is this weather? Ted Ryan of the National Weather Service in Fort Worth says we haven't had wintery conditions like this for more than two decades.
Ryan: This is actually very unusual. We looked through some of the climatological records. This is probably the coldest cold snap we've had since December of 1989. Normally this time of year generally we're around mid-fifties for the highs and mid-thirties for lows. Usually our cold snaps this time of year we get into the forties for highs. This one is more severe.
Freezing Roads Persist
The Texas Department of Transportation plowed slushy and frozen North Texas roads through the night. Hundreds of trucks also dropped sand and de-icers to improve traction. TxDot's Mark Pettit says despite improvements, freezing temperatures persist.
Petit: Things are getting better. We're seeing more and more of our roads getting open. And we're starting to see some steady flows. Obviously we're not done with this. It s going to be an ongoing effort.
Pettit says because TxDot is working overtime to clear so many slick, icy roads, the department is running through supplies at twice the usual rate.
The airline's Ed Martelle says this winter storm is going to snarl air travel for the next few days.
Winter Driving Tips
North Texas drivers will be tested this week. Icy road conditions are expected to last until Friday.
Dan Ronan, with Triple-A-Texas says slow down, and DO NOT tailgate.
Ronan: If the speed limit's 45 miles and hour in a situation like this, probably your best, most prudent speed is two-thirds of that. That gives you adequate braking distance; enough room between you and the cars in front of you and also behind you.
Ronan says think ahead. Plan how you're going to approach and intersection or a bridge.
Winter Weather Wrecking Airline Schedules
Martelle: This storm is kind of a rolling disaster. Things might be reviving here in Dallas-Fort Worth, but you're not going to get to Chicago because they've got what's referred to as a "big blizzard."
Martelle says the storm will then track into the northeast.
DFW Airport was shut down for a couple of hours this morning because if icy runways. Martelle says the airline also could not de-ice planes because it was too windy.
Southwest Airlines says it will try to resume some sort of schedule tomorrow out of Love Field if crews are able to clear icy runways. Today's flights were scrapped.