An ice storm in North Texas has knocked out power to nearly a quarter of a million homes and businesses Friday, canceled about 1,000 flights and contributed to a fatal wreck.
The winter storm warning issued until 6 p.m. Friday was cancelled early, but after several hours of light freezing rain resulted in ice accumulations of up to a half inch across the Meteroplex.
Though the precipitation has ended, temperatures are forecast to stay below freezing into Sunday, meaning residents will have to contend with icy roads through the weekend.
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Widespread Outages Reported
Early Friday morning, Oncor reported as many as 268,000 customers without power across North Texas. At 5 p.m., that number had dropped to about 192,000. Oncor warns it may take more than 24 hours to restore power to all customers.
Customers can report and monitor outages at stormcenter.oncor.com. Additionally, phone and power outages can be reported to Oncor by texting the word OUT to 66267 (ONCOR).
750 Flights Canceled at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
American Airlines and American Eagle canceled about 1,400 flights system-wide Friday due to bad weather in Texas. Airlines at DFW canceled 750 flights, or 90 percent of the normal daily load. At Dallas Love Field, Delta, United and Seaport Airlines canceled all flights until noon. Dallas-based Southwest Airlines tweeted it had more than 50 cancellations Friday.
Many Schools Closed Friday, Many Events Canceled or Postponed
Dallas and Fort Worth school districts led a list of North Texas school systems, colleges and universities that canceled their Friday classes.
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Numerous government offices also closed.
Dallas Marathon and Parade Canceled
Sunday's MetroPCS Dallas Marathon has been canceled with organizers citing the "safety of our participants, as well as our volunteers and spectators." The race draws thousands of runners from inside and outside North Texas. The race's health and fitness expo was also canceled.
In the livestream video player above, watch a live feed from NBC 5's camera near Klyde Warren Park in Dallas. The shot looks northeast along Woodall Rodgers Freeway toward Central Expressway.
Transportation Updates
Due to a thick layer of ice covering most bridges and overpasses in the Metroplex, North Texans are encouraged to drive only when absolutely necessary.
On Friday afternoon, Dallas Fire Rescue said they responded to 61 motor vehicle crash calls, 23 fires and 154 calls about utility wires being down. The Dallas County Sheriff's Office said they responded to 70 crashes on Dallas-area freeways, primarily interstates 35E, 20 and 30.
Arlington police said a driver died Friday after his car hit a stopped truck on Interstate 20 near Cooper Street at around 12:15 a.m. Friday. Police said inclement weather appears to have been a factor in the crash that killed 29-year-old Chase Brandenburgh.
Officials with both Dallas Area Rapid Transit and The T reported delays Friday and DART canceled rail service, switching travelers to buses. DART urges customers to check the website for updates. Meanwhile, The T waived bus fare Friday due to limited service availability.
The Trinity Railway Express is also experiencing weather-related delays, according to DART trains are running between 35 and 60 minutes behind schedule.
Governor Issues Emergency Proclamation
Gov. Rick Perry issued an emergency proclamation, mobilizing state resources as many parts of the state brace for a severe winter storm.
In a statement Thursday, Perry urged affected communities to "prepare for dangerous weather conditions."
His order activates a statewide emergency operations center. It also means 54 Texas Military Forces personnel and 20 supporting vehicles were standing by in Wichita Falls and Sherman to help rescue any stranded motorists.
State resources currently responding include:
54 Texas Military Forces personnel and 20 supporting vehicles positioned in Wichita Falls and Sherman to assist with rescuing stranded motorists.
Texas Department of Transportation officials to treat roadways in affected areas. Regional offices are monitoring the situation and remain ready to provide additional assistance as necessary.
The Public Utility Commission to monitor power outages due to ice and coordinate any necessary response with utility companies.
Texans may call 2-1-1 for winter weather related resources, such as information regarding Warming Centers where individuals may seek daytime shelter from the cold. Relay services and cell phone users who have out-of-state area codes can access 2-1-1 in Texas by dialing 1-877-541-7905.
In the livestream video player above, watch a live feed from Chopper 5.
Residents Prepare for the Worst
In the Dallas area, agencies and residents are still haunted by the fiasco of a frozen Super Bowl week two years ago, when an inadequate response to a winter storm crippled the region and left visitors stranded on impassable highways.
At a Dallas Home Depot, manager James Mulberry said the store was already running out of firewood and ice melt on Thursday afternoon, as freezing rain and wind began hitting the region. Residents were preparing for a storm that threatened to slick en highways, freeze power lines -- and leave them stranded through the weekend.
"It's almost like a Black Friday," Mulberry said, "but I guess we'll call it an Ice Friday."
Debbie Jones was at a supermarket collecting the ingredients for a warm winter meal in advance of Friday.
"I'm going to make a gumbo, then try and lay it in for tomorrow," Jones said.
Various NBC 5 reporters and Associated Press writers contributed to this report.