North Texans woke up to subfreezing temperatures Saturday morning after a wintry mix moved in overnight, kicking off what could be one of the coldest stretches of the year.
The National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office on Friday issued a Winter Storm Warning for much of North Texas as confidence increased that sleet and freezing rain would move into the area. The warning took effect Friday evening and runs through noon Sunday. An extreme cold warning was issued for Saturday through Monday.
After temperatures plunged Friday night, North Texas is heading into the thick of the winter storm that is expected to take over the weekend.
Friday evening, shortly after 7:20 p.m., temperatures dropped to the lower 30s in the rural areas of Denton and Tarrant counties, the weather service said.
D-FW Weather Wise
Roads in Young and Montague counties began freezing over at around 7:40 p.m., according to reports made to the weather service.
The storm has caused widespread anxiety among North Texans and in other parts of the country.
With over 1,000 flights canceled as of Friday at DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field, airline travel continues to be on murky territory throughout the weekend.
Earlier, several airlines issued travel waivers and alerts, making it possible for customers to reschedule flights and make changes to their travel plans ahead of the icy weekend.
The weather service said Friday evening that the precipitation is expected to end Sunday, but travel impacts will linger through Monday and Tuesday.
Forecasts of the dangerously cold temperatures prompted schools, government offices and businesses across North Texas to announce closures and delays. Dallas officials urged residents to stay off the roads, while homeless service agencies and the city opened a temporary warming shelter and began offering transportation for people who need a warm place to stay.
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Dallas officials said Friday they plan to house at least 1,200 people at Fair Park to escape the biting cold. The city partnered with homelessness service providers to help with free meals, blankets, extra clothes, health resources and pet kennels at the city’s main temporary shelter at Fair Park’s Automobile Building, 3809 Grand Ave.
A thaw isn’t anticipated until early next week. On Monday, the daytime temperatures are expected to top out at around 27 degrees with overnight temperatures falling as low as 8 degrees.
The extreme cold warning is in effect until noon Monday, according to the weather service’s forecast. Tuesday is when the temperatures are expected to rise again, with highs in the 40s.
Flying during the winter storm? Here’s some pointers
7 a.m.
If your flight is canceled and you decide not to travel, the airline must give you a refund. That is true even if your ticket was “nonrefundable.”
The airline may offer a voucher, but you can ask for your money back. You can also get refunds for unused fees, like checked bags or seat upgrades.
Before you leave for the airport, check your flight in the airline’s app and look for a storm travel waiver. A waiver often lets you change your flight without paying a fee.
If your flight is canceled, the airline will usually try to rebook you on a later flight. But it does not have to put you on another airline.
Refunds typically take up to seven business days for credit cards, and up to 20 days for cash or check payments, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
— Chase Rogers
Airport workers direct a Southwest Airline plane as rain falls at Dallas Love Field Airport on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026 in Dallas. As of Friday morning, airlines at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field had canceled more than 1,000 flights that were scheduled for Saturday.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
Some stretches of Dallas-Fort Worth reporting sleet, light snow
6:10 a.m.
Some parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth area woke Saturday to a thin crust of sleet and snow under gray, low-hanging skies, while other roads held only a wet sheen.
The weather service reported pockets of fog and mist across the region.
The Texas Department of Transportation’s online road-conditions portal showed only a handful of road closures in and around Dallas.
“Driving conditions can rapidly change to slick & hazardous as temps drop; avoid unnecessary travel if possible,” the TxDOT warned in a post on X.
— Chase Rogers
This is a developing story and will be updated.