US Trends

when will it be safe to drive in dallas

Road conditions in Dallas around January 26–27, 2026 are being affected by a major winter storm with ice, sleet, and snow, so authorities are still urging people to avoid driving unless it is absolutely necessary. It is expected to become meaningfully safer later on Tuesday once temperatures rise above freezing and road crews finish treating the main routes, but early morning and overnight hours remain especially dangerous because of refreezing.

What’s happening in Dallas right now

  • North Texas, including Dallas, has been coated in ice, sleet, and snow after a significant winter storm.
  • City and state officials are warning that many roads are still slick, especially bridges, overpasses, and untreated neighborhood streets.
  • Freezing temperatures are lingering through at least Tuesday morning, which keeps melted slush refreezing into black ice.

Dallas ISD has already announced that schools and offices are closed on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, specifically due to anticipated dangerous road conditions and extreme cold, and they plan to reopen on Wednesday. That closure is a strong signal that normal driving conditions are not expected until sometime after Tuesday morning.

When it will be “safer” to drive

There is no exact clock time when driving suddenly becomes “safe,” but current guidance gives a rough timeline:

  1. Through late Monday night and early Tuesday:
    • Roads remain icy in many areas, with high risk on bridges and overpasses.
 * Officials are explicitly asking people to stay off the roads if they can.
  1. Late Tuesday morning to afternoon:
    • Some melting is expected as temperatures rise, and major roads that have been treated (salted/sanded) should gradually improve.
 * Even then, shaded spots, side streets, and elevated roadways can still have patches of ice, so conditions are “better” but not fully safe.
  1. By Wednesday (Jan 28, 2026) and beyond:
    • School district plans to reopen suggest that citywide conditions are expected to be much closer to normal.
 * At that point, most main roads should be drivable with usual caution, though lingering icy spots are still possible in some areas.

As a rule of thumb: if temperatures where you are are still below freezing and the road surface looks wet or dull, assume it may be icy and unsafe, especially before mid‑day.

How to decide if you, personally, should drive

Before you go out, check a few things specific to your situation:

  • Time of day: Avoid late night and early morning; wait for late morning or afternoon when it’s warmer and crews have worked more.
  • Type of roads: Highways and main arterials that are treated are usually safer than neighborhood streets, but they can still have surprise icy patches.
  • Your vehicle: Good tires, anti-lock brakes, and traction control help, but they do not eliminate the risk of sliding on ice.
  • Your route: If it uses lots of bridges, flyovers, or steep ramps, consider postponing or rerouting.
  • Your experience: If you’re not comfortable driving on ice or sleet, the safest choice is to stay home until conditions clearly improve.

A practical example: if you’re thinking about driving Tuesday morning to work, you might wait until late morning or ask to work remotely; if it can wait until Wednesday, that will almost certainly be safer based on current closure and reopening plans.

Quick safety tips if you must drive

If you absolutely have to go out before conditions fully improve:

  1. Drive far below the speed limit, with very gentle steering, braking, and acceleration to avoid losing control on hidden ice.
  1. Leave a much larger following distance than usual so you have room to slide without hitting anyone.
  2. Treat every bridge, overpass, and shaded stretch as potentially icy, even if the last mile looked fine.
  1. Keep your lights on, clear all windows completely, and avoid sudden lane changes or hard braking.
  2. If you start sliding, ease off the gas and gently steer in the direction you want to go; don’t slam the brakes.

Bottom line: If your trip isn’t urgent, it’s safer to delay driving in Dallas until at least late Tuesday and, ideally, Wednesday, when schools and more services plan to resume and roads should be much improved.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.