Breckenridge schools, courthouse to close Wednesday, Feb. 5, due to predictions for winter storm
Breckenridge schools and the Stephens County Courthouse will be closed on Wednesday, Feb. 5, due to the expected dangerous weather conditions.
Interim Superintendent for Breckenridge Independent School District Earl Jarrett made the decision to cancel school after the National Weather Service predicted a winter storm that could bring heavy sleet and up to four inches of snow to the area. Whether or not there will be classes on Thursday has not been decided yet.
Additionally, the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce has postponed an event scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. The Chamber’s first Lunch with the Chamber was planned as a networking event for local business owners and employees. It will be rescheduled at a later date. Also, the Chamber has extended the deadline for the essay contest for BISD students. The essays will now be due at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 6.
The Breckenridge’s City Offices and the Breckenridge Texas State Technical College campus will be closed today.
Other closing:
- First Baptist Church of Breckenridge has canceled its Wednesday night activities for Feb. 5.
- The Open Door in Cisco and Breckenridge, as well as the Mobile Unit, will be closed Feb 5.
- The Breckenridge Medical Center will he closed Feb. 5. Urgent Care at Stephens Memorial Hospital will be open.
- The ResourceCare Medical clinic will be closed Feb. 5.
- First United Methodist Church offices are closed Feb. 5 and the Wednesday night activities are canceled due to the weather.
The storm is expected to hit the area including Montague, Young, Jack, Stephens, Palo Pinto and Eastland counties beginning as early as midnight tonight and continuing through 6 p.m. Wednesday.
According to the NWS, the specific forecast includes heavy sleet, freezing rain and snow. Total sleet and snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches and ice accumulations of up to one-tenth of an inch are predicted.
“Poor travel conditions could continue into Wednesday evening or even Thursday morning since temperatures will remain near or below freezing,” the forecast states. “Refreezing of any uncleared
roadways would allow icy roads to continue. Roads, bridges, and overpasses in the warning area will be very hazardous, and possibly impassible. Travel is discouraged unless it is an emergency. Keep an extra blanket, flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case you become stranded.”
The Texas Department of Transportation is pre-treating roadways in the area with brine to try and keep the roads as clear as possible.
Cutline, top photo: A Texas Department of Transportation snow plow clears U.S. Highway 180 in February 2018 after an ice storm hit the area. The current forecast predicts both sleet and snow. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Editor’s note: This article will be updated periodically with additional closures as we are notified of them.
