Texas Declares Disaster as Season’s Biggest Storm Approaches (1)

Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued disaster declarations for more than half the counties in the state ahead of a powerful winter storm that will be one of the toughest tests of the electric grid since a deadly 2021 collapse.

Ice is predicted for the Dallas area, the Panhandle is bracing for snow, and the capital city Austin is forecast to dip to 16F (-9C) — roughly 25F chiller than normal. The cold is set to persist through the weekend before readings start to moderate early next week, said Brian Hurley, a senior branch forecaster with the US Weather Prediction Center. ...