People get ready: Winter weather returns to East Texas

Cherokee County residents are preparing for another round of cold weather that is predicted to bring snow early next week.

National Weather Service – Shreveport has issued a Winter Weather Advisory, effective 11:03 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, that states light icing is possible through the afternoon throughout portions of East Texas.

Freezing rain is expected for Cherokee and Smith counties, with ice accumulations ranging from a light glaze to about one-tenth of an inch possible until 6 p.m. Thursday evening, NWS said.

“Light icing should be primarily limited to elevated surfaces, bridges, trees and powerlines. The potential for hazardous conditions on bridges could impact the morning commute (Friday),” official said, advising travelers to slow down, use caution and be mindful of downed powerlines.

Cherokee County Sheriff Brent Dickson said that main thoroughfares, such as US Highways 69 and 79, are less a problem than those not traveled as frequently.

“We look for those roads treated by TxDOT to be the ones that ice over last,” he said. “Our main concern is the county roads that are not traveled very often, and people have an issue when they’re trying to come to town in bad weather.”

When the county received snowfall on Jan. 10, problems mainly were related to build-up of snow that eventually turned into slush and ice, which impacted motorists’ control of their vehicles on roadways, he noted.

“With this being an ice storm, we’re looking for trees to start breaking and falling because of the ice build-up – that will be our number one concern right now,” Dickson added.

Updated road conditions are available by dialing 5-1-1 or 800-452-9292, or visit the TxDOT link drivetexas.org for road closures and conditions statewide.

Meanwhile, NWS officials report that extremely cold weather is expected Friday through Wednesday, with the coldest temperatures expected Monday night and Tuesday morning, as overnight lows fall into the single digits for most places north of Interstate 20, but into the teens elsewhere.

Meanwhile, in Cherokee County, rain and scattered thunderstorms are likely through Thursday evening, with small hail produced by some of these thunderstorms.

On Friday, Feb. 12, freezing rain is possible across much of East Texas, south of a line from Tyler to

Marshall in the morning, with temps warming during the day to transition back to simply rain.

“However, more freezing rain and sleet is expected areawide, beginning Friday night and into the daytime hours of Saturday. Accumulations should remain very light, most likely only a trace. However, this may still be enough to produce a very thin glaze of ice on exposed surfaces,” the report stated.

On Valentine’s Day, Sunday, areas along and north of I-30 will see “a much more significant” winter storm, while further southeast, people will experience some freezing rain, NWS officials said.

Much colder air arriving Monday brings snow in the forecast, with accumulations of about 3 to 6 inches possible northwest of a line from Jacksonville to Shreveport to Farmerville, Louisiana, while to the southeast, 1 to 3 inches of snow and some ice accumulations are expected.

Another round of rain and snow mix is expected to hit the area on Wednesday, officials said.