DALLAS (January 7, 2025) – As cold temperatures remain across the service area, Oncor is closely monitoring and preparing for the arrival of a winter storm with expected snow and ice impacts later this week. Oncor’s annual winter preparations have been completed and lineworkers and support teams are ready to work around the clock to safely and quickly respond to any potential outage impacts. Customers are urged to stay weather aware and take steps today to prepare for the winter storm’s arrival.

Winter Precipitation: Current Forecasts

Winter precipitation is expected across North, West, Central and East Texas beginning as early as Wednesday night, Jan. 8, and ending Friday, Jan. 10. The heaviest precipitation – in the form of snow as well as a wintry mix of snow, freezing rain (ice) and sleet – will occur during the day Thursday, Jan. 9.

Based on current weather forecasts, ice accumulation is expected in portions of Oncor’s service territory as a result of freezing rain, with measurable amounts most likely in parts of North, Central and East Texas, particularly along and north of a line from Brady to Waco to Tyler. Here, one tenth to a quarter inch of ice may form on trees, roads and sidewalks.

Two to six inches of snow is expected for North Texas, particularly for areas north of I-20 and along portions of the I-30 corridor. Locally higher snowfall totals are possible for areas closer to the Red River. Below-freezing temperatures will continue to occur overnight through the early-morning hours each day through at least Saturday, Jan. 11.

Impacts of Ice Accumulation

Specific outages or impacts to electric service as a result of winter weather can be difficult to predict, as even slight variations in temperature can alter the amount and type of precipitation. Ice accumulation poses the greatest possible impact to electric service as it can weigh down branches and equipment. Ice can increase the weight of branches by 30 times, and half an inch of ice accumulation can add 500 pounds of extra weight to power lines. While snow poses less risk to electric service, heavy, wet snow, especially measuring six inches or more, can also weigh down tree branches.

Additionally, as temperatures fluctuate, accumulated ice and snow may melt and refreeze, causing tree limbs to sag downwards, spring back upwards, or even fall unpredictably. This cycle of thawing and freezing can result in new or repeat outages.

Snow and ice can also make travel hazardous. Even a small amount of ice can make roads and bridges slick and dangerous to drive on. Snow can also become compacted and act as a sheet of ice on roadways. As a result, vehicle accidents that impact electric poles and equipment may be more likely, and it may take additional time for Oncor team members to safely navigate to outage locations. 

Oncor Preparations

Oncor employees and contractors are trained to work safely and efficiently in freezing temperatures and will be ready to respond should outage impacts occur. Field workers, -including lineworkers, construction, and vegetation management (tree trimming) teams, - and materials and supplies, - such as additional transformers, poles and other equipment, will be pre-positioned ahead of the expected arrival of winter precipitation so any restoration work can begin as soon as safely possible. While forecasts are continuing to develop, Oncor staging sites will especially target areas predicted to experience the most significant precipitation impacts.

Seasonal preparedness planning occurs year-round at Oncor and annual winter preparations for the 2024-2025 winter season have been completed. This includes inspecting and servicing thousands of electrical facilities utilizing specialized technicians, drones and helicopters; assessing and preparing bucket trucks, trailers and vehicles to take on winter road conditions; conducting extensive emergency preparedness training, and more.

In recent years, Oncor has also installed automated devices across 70 percent of its distribution system. These automated devices are strategically placed to help shorten the duration of power outages and lower the number of customers affected by these outages. In addition, Oncor operations centers use communications technology to monitor these devices around the clock.

Customer Preparations

Customers are encouraged to keep safety top of mind and continue to protect ‘The Four P’s’ – people, pets, pipes and plants. Take time today to prepare a storm safety kit, review how to use portable heaters or generators, and know how to contact Oncor. Anyone who sees a downed power line should stay away, keep people and pets away and call 911 immediately. While prioritized during power restoration events, critical care designations do not guarantee an uninterrupted power supply, especially during severe weather. Customers who rely on electricity for life-saving medical devices should have a plan in case of power outages.

Customers can report outages and receive updates by registering for MyOncor text alerts by texting “REG” to 66267, visiting stormcenter.oncor.com, downloading the MyOncor App, or by calling 888.313.4747. For weather updates, important safety tips, and information on possible restoration efforts, customers can follow Oncor on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). 

Helpful individual and family resources are also available on the Texas Division of Emergency Management's website, including the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR), a free registry that provides local emergency management planners and responders with information related to your needs during an emergency.