Weather – The Other Side Dallas

January 10, 2024January 10, 2024

First Extreme Weather 2024

First extreme weather 2024 heads to Dallas/Fort Worth this coming Monday with temperatures in the single digits per National Weather Service.

The Fort Worth office of the National Weather Service describes temperatures as “hazardous cold.”

All of North and Central Texas will experience these subfreezing temperatures early next week.

Many areas may drop to below 10 degrees Monday night into Tuesday morning.

Additionally there is greater than fifty percent probability that areas along and north of I-20 stay below freezing all day Monday.

The pending weather has some fearful of a repeat of the blackouts that hit North Texas in 2021. It is another reminder things have not been fixed since arctic blast 2022.

Weather politics is also at play. Governor Abbott is already mobilizing resources for the storm and the weather has made for interesting bedfellows.

This summer Dallas state senator Nathan Johnson sided with ERCOT over consumer needs. This happened even though the senator he replaced, Don Huffines, had called ERCOT’s prior weather responses ridiculous.

First Extreme Weather 2024

National Weather Services recommends taking precautions to protect the 4 P’s: People, Pets, Plants, and Pipes!

Other Side Dallas is your source for Dallas local breaking news as well as extreme weather.

September 5, 2023September 5, 2023

Heat Advisory

A heat advisory will start our first week of September as temperatures remain in triple digits.

Temperatures are expected to be at least one hundred through Friday, before a cold front drops the area to a cool mid nineties this weekend.

The National Weather Service extended forecast appears to show highs in the 90s starting next week.

This heat will continue to hit the oldest and youngest hardest.

Reminder: Heat Safety Tips

IF YOU ARE UNDER AN EXTREME HEAT WARNING:

Find air conditioning.
Avoid strenuous activities.
Wear light clothing.
Check on family members and neighbors.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Never leave people or pets in a closed car.

HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN EXTREME HEAT THREATENS

Prepare NOW

Find places in your community where you can go to get cool.
Keep your home cool:
- Cover windows with drapes or shades.
- Weather-strip doors and windows.
- Use window reflectors, such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard, to reflect heat back outside.
- Add insulation to keep the heat out.
- Use attic fans to clear hot air.
- Install window air conditioners and insulate around them.
Learn to recognize the signs of heat-related illness.

Be Safe DURING

Never leave a child, adult or animal alone inside a vehicle on a warm day.
Find places with air conditioning. Libraries, shopping malls and community centers can provide a cool place to take a break from the heat.
If you’re outside, find shade. Wear a hat wide enough to protect your face.
Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. If you or someone you care for is on a special diet, ask a doctor how best to accommodate it.
Do not use electric fans when the temperature outside is more than 95 degrees, as it could increase the risk of heat-related illness. Fans create air flow and a false sense of comfort, but do not reduce body temperature.
Avoid high-energy activities.
Check yourself, family members and neighbors for signs of heat-related illness.

Heat Advisory Continues

Dallas has had forty-nine 100 degree days this summer including two six day consecutive runs of 100 degree days.

Other Side Dallas will continue to report breaking news that is important to our readers.

January 31, 2023January 31, 2023

February Freeze

A February freeze will open February in a continuation of the January freeze that started Tuesday. Temperatures will not go up until then.

Per the National Weather Service, temperatures are expected to stay below freezing longer than expected.

The earliest temperatures will rise above freezing is Wednesday afternoon for most areas.

Sleet and freezing rain is expected to develop across North Texas on Tuesday morning.

It is expect to last until early afternoon when it will convert into patchy freezing rain and drizzle. Rain will continue until Thursday, but temperatures will be above freezing.

February Freeze And Black Ice

Black ice is a thin coating of ice on surface or highway streets. The ice is not black, but is usually visually transparent.

Areas of black ice are often practically invisible to drivers or people stepping on it. There is, thus, a risk of slippage and subsequent accident due to the unexpected loss of traction.

January 30, 2023January 30, 2023

January Winter Weather Arrives

January winter weather arrives finally after several weeks of a very mild start to the year. There is a wintry mix warning for North Texas from Monday through Wednesday morning.

Icing is possible, making travel conditions dangerous on North Texas roadways. Ice accumulations from 0.1″ to 0.25″ are expected.

Dallas Independent School District and surrounding districts are currently planning to open on time. They say they will monitor the situation throughout the day.

Major travel impacts are possible though on both Tuesday and Wednesday across parts of North and Central Texas.

Freezing rain and sleet will become widespread Monday night and again Tuesday.

This will create slick bridges and overpasses as well as some surface roads.

There is a low threat of damage to power-lines and trees due to icing as well.

The National Weather Service says to avoid travel if possible.

If you have to get out on roads, slow down and make sure to give yourself ample travel time.

January Winter Weather Arrives Slow, But Serious

Other Side Dallas will monitor and update as weather conditions require.

December 22, 2022December 22, 2022

Arctic Blast Arrives Early

The arctic blast arrives early this morning and already has Dallas Fire Rescue on multiple power line situations.

Dallas Fire Rescue has also responded to a major accident blocking traffic at Interstate 20 and Interstate 45. They also responded to a reported structure fire.

Arctic Blast Arrives Early

The cold weather predicted to start this afternoon arrived several hours early per the National Weather Service.

A strong cold front will blast through Dallas this morning. It will bring with it strong, gusty winds and sharply dropping temperatures. Outdoor items and holiday decorations should be secured!

The front should exit the region around noon.

Light snow is possible to the northwest of Dallas and there will be some movement to the east.

The snow will be dry and will be blown around by the wind resulting in no accumulation.

Other Side Dallas will continue to monitor and update throughout the next few days.

December 21, 2022December 20, 2022

DFW Arctic Blast 2022

DFW Arctic Blast 2022 is on its way and will hit Thursday bringing with it reminders of power outages in 2021.

The National Weather Service is predicting much colder temperatures arrive on Thursday. A cold front will surge south across much of the United States.

The exact timing on the front is still somewhat uncertain.

The high temperature of the day for most will likely occur during the morning hours. Temperatures will then fall sharply throughout the day.

Peak wind gusts near 45 MPH are likely, and higher wind gusts cannot be ruled out. This will result in wind chill values in the single digits and teens.

DFW Arctic Blast 2022 – Prepare Now!

A major concern with the incoming weather is the possibility of power outages.

In early 2021 many in DFW experienced multiple days without power as ERCOT‘s inability to manage the Texas grid became apparent. ERCOT failed again six months later during the summer causing rolling blackouts.

One Emergency Manager suggested “charge everything – including back-up power banks – in the next day.”

Additional suggestions included filling gas tanks, having emergency supplies available including in your car, and preparation to be without power for a couple days.

March 21, 2022March 21, 2022

Monday Severe Weather

Monday severe weather is forecast for the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and surrounding counties per the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.

Monday Severe Weather Forecast

Per NWS, strong to severe thunderstorms are expected across North and Central Texas.

Large hail, up to baseball size, and damaging winds and tornadoes are all possible. Hail may exceed 2″ at times along with a few strong tornadoes possible.

The greatest threat for significant severe weather will be between 3:00PM to around 9:00PM as a dryline acts as the focus for vigorous convection.

Other Side Dallas will update its newsfeeds on weather projections as they happen.

February 23, 2022February 23, 2022

OFFICIAL: Snow Day February 24 2022

Dallas Independent School District made it official. We will enjoy a snow day February 24, 2022.

Snow Day February 24 – No Class In Person Or Virtual

All afterschool activites are cancelled for today and a future decision will happen on class for Friday, February 25.

There was some unexpected ice on roadways throughout Dallas this morning and Dallas Fire Rescue reported bad conditions across Interstate 635.

Both Illinois and Oregon have recently reported major accidents involving nearly one hundred vehicles or more.

February 23, 2022February 23, 2022

Wednesday February 23: Morning Road Ice

There is morning road ice in some parts of Dallas from overnight precipitation.

These patches are passable with caution and by and large roadways are running normally throughout the DFW region.

Morning Road Ice – Just The Beginning

Temperatures are not expected over freezing today so current precipitation will not melt and more is expected this afternoon and early evening. This could impact travel home this evening.

Locally, The Dallas Opera has made no decision on its performance of Madame Butterfly.

Current Dallas Independent School District and local campuses are open. Other Side Dallas will provide updates as appropriate.

November 13, 2020November 13, 2020

Our Calling: Homeless Left In Cold

Our Calling Left In Cold Caring For Homeless

Our Calling and the homeless were left out in the cold when Our Calling, located just outside Downtown Dallas, was not included when Dallas City Council approved an exception for churches to operate as emergency homeless shelters during extreme cold.

City Council and staff has worked for years on a policy that would create a legal way for churches to open their doors to the homeless on freezing nights. Staff from Our Calling said a change made in the final hour will now leave 270 people out in the cold.

“I think what they are communicating is they don’t care about minorities that are poor, and they sure don’t want them Downtown, and now they don’t even want them a half mile away from Downtown,” said Pastor Wayne Walker, with Our Calling, which is a discipleship ministry to the unsheltered homeless.

Two years ago, the city gave Pastor Wayne Walker a citation for sheltering the homeless during a freezing night.

Our Calling is located immediately outside Downtown, near The Cedars, a community experiencing economic revitalization, bringing calls of racism and privilege.

Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Adam Medrano, Adam Bazaldua, and Omar Narvaez – the Woke Caucus as some refer to them – seemed to justify limiting the homeless at Our Calling.

“We are listening to our constituents, we have enough shelter Downtown. We do. This was supposed to spread it out throughout the city,” said Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Adam Medrano.

This same constituency pushed defunding the police earlier in the year and re-programming funds away from the police department. Their previous stances seem more in favor of bike lanes than actually social services for those in need.

Earlier this year these same members of City Council were prepared to push through $1.9M in CARES Act funding for the Lorenzo Hotel until D12 City Council Member Cara Mendelsohn called attention to the issue.

Additionally, these more challenged socioeconomic areas of Dallas received a smaller percentage of the city rental assistance program than their more wealthy neighbors.

Our Calling

Our Calling is on the frontline of the battle to cure homelessness. They’re on the streets every day meeting the unsheltered homeless of Dallas County, learning their stories, identifying their needs, and theysay connecting their hearts to Christ. We have formed lasting connections with thousands of individuals who we are proud to be able to include among our friends.