Storm Moves Through North Texas

From WFAA.com Weather Blog

As a winter storm moves across North Texas and temperatures drop overnight, WFAA.com will report the latest developments.

7:41p: The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued flood warnings for:
The East Fork of the Trinity River at McKinney in Collin County from late Thursday to late Friday night, or until the warning is canceled

Chambers Creek near Rice in Navarro County from Saturday morning until Sunday evening, or until the warning is canceled

The South Fork of the Sabine River near Quinlan in Hunt and Rockwall counties from late Thursday to late Friday night, or until the warning is canceled

- National Weather Service
6:54p: A powerful storm dumped snow, sleet and freezing rain on Oklahoma and the southern Plains Thursday, disrupting power to thousands of Oklahoma homes and businesses, canceling flights at the state's largest airports and shutting down major highways. Ice accumulations of more than one-half inch and high winds snapped electrical lines across Oklahoma, knocking out electrical power to about 57,000 homes and businesses. It could take five days to restore service to all customers.

- Associated Press
6:03p: Forestburg ISD has delayed Friday's opening until 10 a.m.

- WFAA-TV Staff
6:01p: Witnesses at the Stephenville Nursing Home said a 50-foot chunk of corrugated metal roofing that was picked up by the storm Thursday afternoon and then slammed down on top of the facility's kitchen. "All of a sudden there was this terrible noise," said one witness, who added that the chunks of insulation material flying through the air made it look like it was snowing. That prompted an evacuation of the building's 24 residents to a sister facility in Dublin, about 12 miles away. No one was hurt.

- Chris Hawes in Stephenville
6:00p: This powerful storm is hitting hard in Oklahoma, where many highways have already been shut down. Trees are falling across roads in the Oklahoma City area, where ice is accumulating. We're seeing nothing but rain in North Texas -- a lot of rain. One to two inches of rain has fallen as of 6 p.m. and more rain is on the way, with up to two additional inches in the forecast. We're still looking at an all-rain event in Dallas-Fort Worth and surrounding counties for the morning rush hour on Friday, but as the system moves through North Texas and temperatures drop, we still could see some very light freezing rain, freezing drizzle and a flake or two of snow by noon in the immediate Dallas Fort-Worth area. A winter weather advisory is in effect from midnight through noon Friday for counties to the north and west of the metro area.

- Chief Meteorologist Pete Delkus
5:38p: Gov. Rick Perry has activated Texas military forces to assist local officials with winter storm-related issues.

- WFAA-TV Staff
5:18p: There are no severe storms in North Texas at this time, but there is still a chance of some severe weather with a squall line that is moving southeast of Dallas packing wind up to 50 mph along with heavy rain.

News 8 WeatherBug rainfall totals have already reached 1.45 inches at Wayside Middle School in Fort Worth and 1.41 inches at Forte Junior High in Azle. Heavy snow of up to 1.5 feet has already fallen in the Texas Panhandle. Icy conditions are reported across much of Oklahoma.

Overnight, temperatures in Dallas, Tarrant, Denton and Collin counties are forecast remain above freezing, and morning rush hour drivers should encounter only rain. But by 9 a.m. Friday most of Denton County and a good chunk of Tarrant County will be receiving a wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet; some bridges and overpasses could present problems.

By the noon hour, I expect very, very light freezing rain or drizzle, but the storm system will be moving out of the area during the afternoon, and we should be dried out by 6 p.m.
If there is any ice at all in Dallas-Fort Worth, it will be extremely light, with higher amounts the farther northwest you go.

- Chief Meteorologist Pete Delkus
5:05p: North Central Texas College locations in Bowie and Graham have canceled all classes for Thursday night because of the winter storm.

- WFAA-TV Staff
5:03p: The administrator at Stephenville Nursing Home confirms that no patients were hurt during the storm that damaged a 50-foot swath of the building's roof. An evacuation plan moved 24 patients by bus to a sister facility. Officials said water damage and roof damage will be repaired as soon as possible, and they are hoping to be back in business early next week. Stephenville residents are urged to switch on their porch lights to let utility workers know which homes and businesses have power.

- Troy Bush and Chris Hawes in Stephenville
4:55p: The City of Fort Worth has issued a Winter Weather Advisory, anticipating that the potential for freezing temperatures combined with precipitation on Thursday night and Friday morning "could cause some problems."

- WFAA-TV Staff
4:30p: There were no injuries reported after wind clocked up to 66 mph blew away a section of the roof at the Stephenville Nursing Home, 2311 West Washington Street. A city official said 24 patients have been evacuated to another facility. A portion of a roof at Tarleton State University in Stephenville was also damaged in the storm, with some flooding and tree damage reported.
- HD Chopper 8 pilot Troy Bush over Stephenville