Cold air has slipped into Texas and the weather map just lit up. I am tracking a fast growing winter storm that will paint sharp lines between rain, sleet, and snow. DFW is now under a Winter Storm Warning. Several inches of snow and sleet are possible. Roads will turn slick fast in heavier bands. This is a high impact travel weekend for North Texas.
What the maps show right now
Radar is already breaking the state into zones. Warmer pockets are pushing rain. Colder air is turning drops into ice pellets and wet snow. The 32 degree line is the key. North of it, ice and snow will dominate. Near it, sleet wins. South of it, chilly rain will linger.
I am watching a southwest to northeast snow and sleet band set up near and north of DFW. That band will wobble. A small shift of 25 to 50 miles will change who gets the highest totals. Expect local jumps in accumulation over short drives. [IMAGE_1]
Bridges and overpasses will glaze first. Black ice can form even when grassy areas look wet, not white.
How to read today’s weather maps
Radar maps
Green and yellow often mean rain. Pink is sleet or freezing rain. Blue is snow. Watch the pink zone. That is where travel turns dangerous fastest. Sleet bounces, but it packs into a hard crust. It makes stopping distance much longer.
Snow and ice totals
Accumulation maps are guidance, not guarantees. If a heavy band stalls, your town can double the forecast. DFW could see up to about 5 inches of mixed snow and sleet. Areas just south may see more sleet, less snow. Ice glaze is more likely east of I 35 if warm air noses in aloft.
Temperatures and the freezing line
The most important map today is the surface temperature map. Follow the 32 degree contour. That line will sag south this evening and lift north on Sunday. If your temperature holds at 31 or 32, small changes aloft decide if you get sleet or snow. If it dips to 28, roads ice quickly, even in lighter precipitation. [IMAGE_2]
Set your map to show temperatures at both the surface and at 5,000 feet. A warm layer aloft means sleet, not snow.
Why the forecast keeps shifting
This storm is riding a sharp temperature gradient. A slight wind shift tilts that gradient and moves the snow band. Also, narrow convective bursts inside the storm make localized jackpots. Think of it like train tracks. One track gets a long train of heavy snow. The next track gets a short burst, then a lull. Models can see the tracks, but not every car.
Moisture is ample because the Gulf is warm for January. A warmer atmosphere holds more water. That boosts precipitation rates. Cold air near the ground then decides how that moisture falls. That is why your map may flip from blue to pink to green in one hour.
This is not a repeat of 2021
The setup is different. In 2021, Arctic air flooded the state and stayed for days. Power demand soared while supply plunged. This event is shorter and less cold statewide. We still face hazardous travel and spotty power issues, mainly from ice on lines and tree limbs. The deep and prolonged hard freeze of 2021 is not in this forecast.
Short event, sharper gradients, faster recovery. That is the signature of this storm, not a days long deep freeze.
What to watch and what to do now
Keep your eye on four map features as the storm evolves:
- The 32 degree line near and north of DFW
- The pivot point of the main snow and sleet band
- Ice accretion thickness in the pink zone
- Wind speeds during heaviest bursts
If you must drive, plan around timing. Roads are most dangerous when the first burst hits untreated pavement. City crews are pretreating key routes. Sand and brine help, but sleet can still polish the surface. Limit trips and give trucks space. If you work outdoors, shift tasks to late morning or early afternoon when rates may ease.
Sustainability matters in storms like this. Choose lower salt options when deicing your own steps. Use only what you need. Extra salt washes into streams and harms plants and fish. Keep thermostats steady. Small swings waste energy without adding comfort. Check on neighbors who use electric heat pumps. Many units have defrost cycles that may need a gentle assist from space heating. Use certified heaters only, never run a generator indoors.
The bottom line
I expect a tight gradient across North Texas with significant snow and sleet near and north of DFW. South and east of the metro, more sleet and pockets of freezing rain will make travel tough. Totals will vary a lot over short distances. Stay map aware, not map obsessed. Track the freezing line, watch for wobbling bands, and give this storm the respect it has earned. The cold will ease faster than in 2021, but the next 24 to 36 hours still carry real risk. Bundle up, drive smart, and keep your weather map close ❄️
