NE Dallas News

Winter Storm Mara Updates

CWD is suspending all operations tomorrow, Wednesday, February 1. 

Once a recovery plan is finalized, we will communicate it to residents.

Nixle Alert - Winter Storm Warning until 6:00 a.m. Thursday, February 2

• WHAT: Mixed precipitation, primarily in the form of freezing rain and/or sleet is expected. Total ice or sleet accumulations between one tenth and one half of an inch are possible.
• WHERE: All of North Texas and western Central Texas.
• WHEN: From noon today to 6 a.m. CST Wednesday
• IMPACTS: Significant impacts to travel may begin as early as Monday afternoon and continue through at least Tuesday night. Elevated surfaces such as bridges and overpasses will likely be the first to become icy, slick, and hazardous as temperatures hover around or below freezing.
• AFFECTED AREAS: MONTAGUE, COOKE, GRAYSON, FANNIN, LAMAR, YOUNG, JACK, WISE, DENTON, COLLIN, HUNT, DELTA, HOPKINS, STEPHENS, PALO PINTO, PARKER, TARRANT, DALLAS, ROCKWALL, KAUFMAN, EASTLAND, ERATH, HOOD, SOMERVELL, JOHNSON, ELLIS, COMANCHE, MILLS, HAMILTON, BOSQUE, HILL, NAVARRO, LAMPASAS, CORYELL, BELL, MCLENNAN, FALLS, MILAM

Instructions: If you must travel, slow down and use extreme caution particularly when approaching bridges and overpasses. Keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for Texas can be found at drivetexas.org

4:00 P.M. GISD UPDATE 

Garland ISD has canceled school and all related activities for Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, due to inclement weather. We will continue to monitor road conditions. Please continue to check Garland ISD’s website and social media platforms for updates. 

Updated information will be provided by 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31 regarding Wednesday, Feb. 1 operations. If road conditions impact school operations, we will share that information on our district website, social media platforms, GRS-TV, and through our Skylert phone message system. 

For all GISD weather-related information, please click here.

4:00 P.M. WISD UPDATE    

All Wylie ISD school and facilities will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 31 due to winter weather and poor travel conditions. We wanted to communicate this news to you as early as possible so that you may make any necessary arrangements for your family. Other important information: 

• If a decision is made to close school on Wednesday, Feb. 1, families and staff will be notified as soon as possible. 
• Wylie ISD’s designated “bad weather” days are April 10 and May 30.
• The state prohibits virtual learning as a possible option.

For all WISD weather-related information, please click here.

Due to the weather forecast, CWD has CANCELED all trash/recycling services for tomorrow, January 31. We will update you on a recovery plan as soon as it is available.   

Preparing for Bitterly Cold Temperatures, Atmos Energy Offers Safety Tips

Bitterly cold temperatures are settling in for the next several days, and Atmos Energy is closely monitoring the weather and staging its employees across the system.

Atmos Energy reminds customers to stay alert to changing weather conditions in their area, while following a few easy tips to conserve energy, keep warm, and stay safe during the winter weather.

• Never use an oven or a gas stovetop to heat your home.
• Protect natural gas meters. Natural gas meters are weather-proof; however, to ensure that the meter keeps working smoothly, remove snow and ice from natural gas meters with a broom or brush. Never kick or chip snow and ice away with a hard object.
• Safely remove snow from vents for dryers and other natural gas equipment. Blocked vents for dryers and other gas appliances can lead to a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide gas.
• Minimize the risk of frozen pipes. Leave faucets running at a trickle, leave cabinet doors open, and close all doors and windows to keep heat inside.
• If you think you smell gas, act fast! Leave the area immediately and from a safe distance call 911 and the Atmos Energy emergency number, 866.322.8667: https://www.atmosenergy.com/safety/recognizing-leak
• These tips and more are available on our Weather Safety page.

Conserve energy:

• Every degree makes a difference. Save energy and money by lowering your thermostat to at least 68 degrees and 58 degrees when you are away from home.
• Don’t forget the water heater. Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees or set your temperature dial to normal or medium.
• Harness the power of the sun. Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.
• Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Leaving the damper open is like keeping a window wide open – warm air goes right up the chimney!
• Change furnace filters once a month during winter. Dirty air filters can lead to dust, dirt, and grime buildup on the heating components, causing the furnace to use more energy and increasing the risk of a malfunction.
• Unplug electronic devices and turn off lights that are not in use.
• Make sure air registers and vents are not blocked by furniture or equipment for proper air flow.
• Install a smart or programmable thermostat to automatically control your heating and cooling temperatures.
• Hire a qualified professional to conduct regular maintenance and filter replacement on your HVAC systems.
• Weatherize your building by sealing gaps and cracks in windows, doors, exterior walls, and roof penetrations with caulk or weatherstripping.
• For more ways to save energy and money, please visit atmosenergy.com/energytips.

For additional information about carbon monoxide safety, please visit atmosenergy.com/carbon-monoxide-safety.

Atmos Energy encourages customers needing solutions to keep up with their monthly natural gas expenses to contact Atmos Energy’s customer service team at 888.286.6700 or visit the Account Center at atmosenergy.com/accountcenter.

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Tips from Water My Yard

With the start of Winter, below freezing temperatures are already being forecast for this Thursday and Friday.

Many regions of the state have already begun to experience colder temperatures, with some areas reaching near freezing during the night. With shorter days and colder nights, many landscape plants like turfgrass have started to go dormant. Dormant plants require almost no supplemental irrigation since typical winter rainfall patterns are usually more than sufficient for any plant needs.

Most landscape irrigation systems should be turned off during the winter. This helps conserve water and can help protect the irrigation system from damaging winter conditions. Winterizing is the process of preparing an irrigation system for winter weather and can help avoid costly repairs in the spring.

For most of Texas you can follow these simple steps to Winterize an irrigation system:

• Turn off the irrigation controller,
• Turn off the irrigation system water supply near the water meter or backflow prevention assembly (most irrigation systems have an isolation valve for this purpose),
• Insulate any PVC pipes that are exposed above ground, and
• Drain the water from irrigation components installed above ground such as backflow prevention assemblies.

 Additional winterization resources, including how to videos are available at https://irrigation.tamu.edu/winterization/

Continue to monitor your weekly WaterMyYard notifications to determine when you will need to begin irrigating again next year.

Original source can be found here