Winter weather arrives with freezing rains, chill

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Valentine’s Day 2021 arrived with freezing rain in areas throughout East Texas, as well as across the region.

At 10:05 a.m., Feb. 14, National Weather Service officials in Shreveport reported patchy freezing rain, sleet and snow will continue throughout the day, creating icy road condition. As the night falls, intensity of precipitation will increase, enhancing travel hazards. With it comes bitter wind chills, creating temperatures as low as 10 degrees below zero in some areas.

The winter storm warning remains in effect through 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15, officials said, adding that a hard freeze warning remains in effect from midnight Sunday to 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The winter storm warning will bring heavy mixed winter precipitation with total snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches, sleet accumulations or around one inch and freezing rain accumulations of around one-quarter of an inch, with wind chills remaining very cold on Monday.

“While the winter storm will move quickly east of our region after 6 p.m. Monday, another winter storm will begin impacting the region late Tuesday night, (bringing) a widespread wintry mix again Wednesday and Wednesday night before exiting the region late Thursday,” according to the NWS website. “Significant ice and snow accumulations will be possible with this midweek winter storm as well.”

A hard freeze warning in Cherokee County and surrounding areas results in sub-freezing temperatures on Sunday night, ranging from near 20 degrees, dropping into single digits on Monday, the site stated.

“Hard freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing,” it noted.

In preparation for the freeze, residents should protect tender plants from the cold, prepare exposed pipes by wrapping, draining or leaving a slow drip; in-ground sprinkler systems should be drained and covered above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing, officials said.

Meanwhile, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department noted late Sunday morning that roads from Jacksonville north have begun accumulating ice on them, advising residents to stay home and stay safe.

CCSO posts occasional updates on conditions on its Facebook page “Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office” – people can also go to DriveTexas.org to see a map with roads impacted by weather conditions.
Local road conditions also can be accessed by calling 1-800-452-9292 or 5-1-1.