A winter weather watch and extreme cold watch have been issued for North Texas, as a multi-day winter storm is expected to bring freezing temperatures, snow, sleet and ice to the region.

All LISD facilities will be closed at 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23 due to winter weather. All after school activities Jan. 23 will be cancelled or rescheduled. Forecasts predict total snow and sleet accumulations between one and five inches, with hazardous road conditions likely throughout the weekend. 

“[My family and I] have shut off our water and filled our bathtub up with water,” junior Sania Abraham said. “Our debate tournament [also] got rescheduled to February, [which is] annoying.” 

Governor Greg Abbott has activated state emergency response resources. Winter weather roadway equipment and crews are pre-treating roadways, personnel are working with local partners to update warming center maps and power outage monitoring and coordinating is taking place. 

Early Friday, the temperature will peak at 50 and will decline into a low 30 by midnight. Light rain will occur and the wind chill will increase throughout the day. Ice is expected into the evening, but can start as early as 2:00 p.m. 

“I’m excited for snow,” junior Landry Woolridge said. “During the winter storm in [2021], our power didn’t go off because we live on a hospital grid.” 

On Saturday, temperatures will drop to 20 before the sun comes up. The high will be 23 degrees. By midnight Sunday, the air temperature is forecast to be 15 degrees with a wind chill of two degrees. 

“My dad put batteries in flashlights,” junior Katherine Granowski said. “He charged our portable chargers so we can charge our devices.” 

On Sunday, snow and sleet chances are expected to continue, but precipitation chances are forecast to fall below 20% by 6 a.m. The low will be 14 degrees, but it will feel like negative one degrees around 8-9 a.m., with a high of 21 degrees at 4:00 p.m. 

Temperatures Monday should be the warmest but are expected to still hover below freezing at a high of 30 degrees. The low is nine degrees. Ice is expected to thaw out Tuesday.

“We bought groceries, and my dad said we shouldn’t go out,” junior Kaydee Kaupp said. “My power went out for two weeks [during the] last storm. We lit candles; it was nice and calming.” 

To prepare for the weather, stock three-days worth of non-perishable food items, batteries and powerbanks, first aid kit and tools and winter weather clothing. For homes, wrap pipes and let faucets drip. Trap heat by blocking door and window drafts with blankets or towels. Keep the refrigerator door closed, and conserve energy when possible. 

“This cold weather is weird,” Abraham said. “The climate [we’re in] isn’t supposed to act like this. We need climate resilient infrastructure.”