Snow flurries have forced schools to close early and snarled roads Thursday across North Texas, Central Texas and the Panhandle.
Much of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area got at least 1 inch of snow, along with freezing temperatures that ground traffic to a halt during the morning rush hour.
The slick roads caused hundreds of crashes across the Metroplex. Fort Worth officials reported 356 crashes from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Grand Prairie reported 40 crashes in the last few hours. Plano reported about 80 crashes between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Thursday. As of noon, Denton police said they had responded to 75 crashes. In Collin County, Plano police received 127 calls for service by noon and there were 80 crashes reported by 10:30 a.m.
Just before 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dallas police announced that officers responded to 406 minor wrecks, 146 injury wrecks and 125 injury wrecks on freeways throughout the day.
Those dangerous roads lead to multiple districts' decision to close, delay, or issue early dismissals for their schools.
At both Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Love Field, airlines are de-icing planes, however delays increased throughout the afternoon at DFW Airport due to gate issues and light snowfall. Travelers are recommended to check the status of their flight before heading to either DFW or Love Field.
The Alvord, Peaster, Poolville and Springtown independent school districts closed schools on Thursday while other districts delayed their start times by around two hours. See the complete list of closings and delays here.
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Weatherford ISD closed schools at noon Thursday due to the weather. The district said buses were used to transport students home, but those students who would be unable to get into their homes due to the change in schedule will be held at schools until picked up by parents.
Fort Worth ISD released their students early as well. High school students will be released at noon, middle school students will be released starting at 1:15 p.m., and elementary schools will be released starting at 2:25 p.m. Tomorrow, Feb. 7, is scheduled as a day off for students in FWISD already.
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, Caroll ISD, and others also released students in staggered times.
Traffic has been slowed as snowfall caused a few collisions and generally lowered speeds on roads in Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington and more North Texas cities.
Around 9 a.m. Thursday, the City of Dallas announced they would begin operations with Ice Force Level 1 to sand roads throughout the city.
Both the Fort Worth Zoo and the Dallas Zoo have closed Thursday due to the weather.
Snow, Weather Impacts Central Texas
The University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University in San Marcos opened classes late Thursday due to winter weather, and school districts in North Texas and the Panhandle were announcing school closures.
Most of Dallas and Fort Worth registered 1/2 to 1 inch of snow, with temperatures dipping into the teens.
The snow was expected to fade by Thursday afternoon.
No weather-related injuries were immediately reported.
