The City of Bowie and the Montague County Emergency Communications team announced a winter storm watch has been issued from late Wednesday night through Friday afternoon. It includes the following counties: Montague-Cooke-Grayson-Fannin-Lamar-Young-Jack-Wise-Denton-Collin-Hunt-Delta-Hopkins-Stephens-Palo Pinto-Parker-Tarrant-Dallas-Rockwall-Kaufman-Van Zandt-Rains-Eastland-Erath-Hood-Somervell-Johnson-Ellis-Comanche

* WHAT…Heavy snow and mixed precipitation possible. Total snow

accumulations between 3 and 6 inches and ice accumulations

around one tenth of an inch possible.

* WHERE…Portions of north central and northeast Texas.

* WHEN…From late Wednesday night through Friday afternoon.

* IMPACTS…Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will

likely become slick and hazardous. Travel could be very difficult

to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the

Thursday morning and evening commutes.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Wintry precipitation will start early

Thursday morning and increase in intensity and coverage through

the day Thursday into Thursday night before tapering off during

the day Friday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.

Persons should consider delaying travel during this time. If travel

is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution. Consider taking

a winter storm kit along with you, including such items as tire

chains, booster cables, flashlight, shovel, blankets and extra

clothing. Also take water, a first aid kit, and anything else that

would help you survive in case you become stranded.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate state emergency response resources ahead of severe winter weather expected to impact the state this week.

“The State of Texas is working around-the-clock to ensure Texans have the resources and support needed as severe winter weather impacts communities across Texas,” said Governor Abbott. “As temperatures begin to drop below freezing and regions of Texas face snow, ice, and freezing rain, it is crucial that everyone remain weather-aware, check DriveTexas.org before traveling, and heed the guidance of state and local officials. Texans can find the warming center nearest them at tdem.texas.gov/warm. I thank emergency management personnel and first responders for working tirelessly to help Texans prepare and stay safe during this winter weather.”

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures at or below freezing are expected across large areas of the state. Some areas may face disruptive snow, ice, and freezing rain, causing potentially hazardous travel conditions through the rest of the week.

Over the weekend, more than 700 Texas Department of Transportation personnel prepared for winter weather by pre-treating roads, bridges, and overpasses with over 500,000 gallons of brine and approximately 800 cubic yards of granular material.

At the direction of Governor Abbott, TDEM has activated the following state emergency response resources to support winter weather response operations:

• Texas Department of Transportation: Winter weather roadway equipment and crews pre-treating and treating roadways; personnel and equipment to assist with traffic control and road closures
• Texas Division of Emergency Management: Incident Management Teams; personnel working with local partners to update warming center maps
• Texas A&M Forest Service: Saw crews; motor graders and personnel to assist with snow/ice clearance
• Texas National Guard: High-profile vehicles and personnel responding to support stranded motorists

Additionally, the following state emergency response resources have been placed on standby for deployment as needed:

• Public Utility Commission of Texas: Power outage monitoring and coordinating with utility providers across the threat area
• Railroad Commission of Texas: Monitoring of the state’s natural gas supply and communication with the oil and gas industry
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Air/water/wastewater monitoring
• Texas Department of State Health Services (Texas Emergency Medical Task Force): Winter Weather Packages including medics and ambulances
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: Disaster assessment and recovery agents
• Texas Animal Health Commission: Coordinating animal/agricultural resource needs
• Texas Department of Public Safety: Texas Highway Patrol Troopers to patrol Texas roadways
• Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: Game Wardens to support local law enforcement; high-profile vehicles to assist stranded motorists
• Texas Department of Information Resources: Monitoring technology infrastructure
• Texas Education Agency: Monitoring school district needs across the state

Texans are urged to monitor local forecasts, check road conditions before traveling on roadways, and follow instructions from emergency officials.

Texans can access winter weather safety tips by visiting TexasReady.gov, locate warming centers opened and operated by local officials at tdem.texas.gov/warm, and check road conditions at DriveTexas.org.

All 12 TxDOT maintenance offices spent today pre-treating
bridges and overpasses with brine in the Wichita Falls District.
Crews in the largest cities sprayed brine on secondary highways and roads first before moving
onto the primary freeways. Employees transformed more than 86 dump trucks into snowplows
and adding brine tanks and sand spreaders.
Tuesday will be spent laying down brine on all primary high traffic roadways and making more
brine for the holding tanks and our tanker trucks.
TxDOT crews are ready to go on 12-hour around the clock shifts.
Motorists can obtain travel information, road conditions and see 15 Wichita Falls traffic cameras and 1 Vernon camera by visiting DriveTexas.org or calling (800) 452-9292. Traffic cameras are
also at TxDOT.Gov.
Remember to follow the Wichita Falls District in our newly created Facebook page,
www.Facebook.com/TxDOTWichitaFalls and on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/TxDOTWF
If you experience an emergency on the road, call 9-1-1 for help and stay buckled up inside your vehicle.