Thousands shiver in the dark as winter storm batters North Texas, leaving over 21,000 without power early Sunday morning. The winter blast has hit the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex particularly hard, with Tarrant County bearing the brunt of the outages.
As of 7 a.m. Sunday, Oncor reported approximately 21,500 customers affected by power outages across North Texas. The utility company’s outage map showed Tarrant County suffering the most with 2,061 customers in the dark, while Dallas County registered 766 outages. Neighboring Collin County reported 746 customers without electricity.
The situation appears to be improving, albeit slowly. Just yesterday afternoon, the numbers were significantly worse across the state. More than 57,000 Texas customers were without power on Saturday as the winter storm intensified, according to data tracked by Power Outage.US.
Preparing for Extended Outages
Oncor spokesperson Andrew Clark urged residents to stay prepared as crews work to restore power. “Customers can also sign up for MyOncor alerts by texting REG to 66267 and we will send them personalized notifications… about outage impacts to their specific address,” Clark explained.
He also recommended families take proactive measures: “Put together a family emergency plan, as well as storm safety kit, blankets, bottled water… flashlights, just in case you need to withstand an extended time without power.”
The numbers tell a concerning story. While major population centers like Dallas and Tarrant counties are seeing substantial outages, even smaller counties aren’t being spared. Johnson County has reported 205 customers without power, while Grayson County shows 20 outages. The least affected appears to be Denton County with just 8 customers in the dark, according to the latest figures.
How long will residents need to bundle up? That remains unclear as meteorologists continue to monitor the system. KOCO 5 Chief Meteorologist Damon Lane has been providing regular updates on the winter storm, tracking weather patterns and snow totals as they develop across the region in his latest forecast.
For many Texans, this storm brings back uncomfortable memories of previous winter weather events that left millions without power for days. The current outages, while significant, haven’t yet approached those historic levels.
Still, with temperatures remaining below freezing and restoration efforts complicated by ongoing winter conditions, thousands of North Texans face an uncomfortable Sunday—hoping their address isn’t among those facing what Clark diplomatically called “an extended time without power.”
