Winter weather has officially arrived in North Texas, with snow forecast as early as Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.
The Texas Department of Transportation’s Dallas District began emergency operations Monday, with crews working 12-hour shifts to treat roads throughout the winter event.
Crews began applying brine to roadways mid-morning Monday across the district’s seven-county area, a spokesperson confirmed.
Brine is being applied to the outside lanes of all major highways first, and then other lanes and other roadways as time permits before the storm arrives.
Bridges and overpasses are the first to freeze, TxDOT warns, so drivers should exercise caution.
“If winter storms are forecast, consider delaying your travel or simply stay home,” TxDOT spokesperson Tila Grant said.
“If travel is a must, check forecasts and visit DriveTexas.org or call 800-452-9292 for highway and road conditions on your planned route,” Grant added.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) rail lines were operating on 30-minute headways Monday morning due to “various cold weather-related issues,” with delays possible throughout the rest of the day, the agency said in a rider alert update.
The Dallas Police Department is reminding drivers to slow down and stay alert, and advising not to leave vehicles running unattended to warm them up. The department will continue to post safety tips on its social media platforms, a spokesperson said Monday.
