McLennan County is under a Winter Storm Warning beginning at midnight and lasting through 6pm Thursday.
Sarah Barnes is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Dallas Ft. Worth, and says the storm will start with rain and maybe a thunderstorm.
“Overnight tonight, probably sometime after midnight, that will transition to freezing rain and sleet, and then we’ll continue to see it transition to mostly sleet throughout the overnight hours in McLennan County.”
The National Weather Service says there is a chance for ice accumulations between a tenth of an inch to a quarter of an inch and to plan on slippery road conditions.
The City of Waco’s Emergency Operations Center has been meeting daily for planning, and is monitoring the situation hour by hour. They are asking that residents be mindful of their electric consumption by turning off things they are not using, and to be sure that there is a gallon of fresh water per person, per day.
Monica Sedelmeier is the director of communications and marketing for the City of Waco and says if you have to be on the roads…
“If the electricity would happen to go out and street lights are not working to utilize those, those corners and intersections as four way stops.”
Sedelmeier says that beginning at 6pm tonight, the Dewey Recreation Center at 925 North 19th street will open as a warming station. Residents are encouraged to bring their own food, as supplies are limited. The warming center will remain open for 24 hours.