Abilene, Wylie schools to start two hours later Thursday

Greg Jaklewicz, Abilene Reporter-News
·2 min read

Abilene was shut down for a third day Wednesday as streets remained slick and temperatures in the 20s.

A fisherman watches his lines as waterfowl fly across Kirby Lake in Abilene on Wednesday. Sleet began falling in the late morning, mixing with rain and melting some ice on roadways.
A fisherman watches his lines as waterfowl fly across Kirby Lake in Abilene on Wednesday. Sleet began falling in the late morning, mixing with rain and melting some ice on roadways.

This was third day that schools were closed, meaning extracurricular activities were off. Colleges turned to remote learning if possible.

Late Wednesday, both the Abilene and Wylie ISDs announced there would be a return to school Thursday, with a two-hour delay.

AISD: Elementary students should arrive by 9:50 a.m. Classes at middle and high school campuses will begin at 10. Zero-period classes will not meet. Buses will begin routes about two hours later than usual.

For updates, go to www.abileneisd.org or check district social media sites.

WISD: Classes will begin two hours later, and buses will run later. The district will monitor conditions in case those deteriorate and alert parents.

There is a chance of more moisture overnight and early in the morning.

A wintry Wednesday

Along with schools, city and county offices were closed as well WE=ednesday for a third day.

The airport was open but there were no flights due to weather problems at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport.

The Abilene Police Department on Wednesday reported only a few minor crashes, and noted motorists largely were not venturing out.

The Texas Department of Transportation of Transportation, which had discouraged travel, reported that ice-covered tree limbs in the area were beginning to snap, some branches falling on power lines. If lights are out at an intersections, motorists should treat that situation as a four-way stop.

Ice clings to pieces of reed sticking out of the Kirby Lake water Wednesday. Most well-traveled streets were wet by midday in Abilene, though ice was still present along curbs, in the shade of trees and buildings, and on overpasses.
Ice clings to pieces of reed sticking out of the Kirby Lake water Wednesday. Most well-traveled streets were wet by midday in Abilene, though ice was still present along curbs, in the shade of trees and buildings, and on overpasses.

Meals on Wheels called off delivery for Tuesday and Wednesday. Reporter-News carriers were unable to deliver the Wednesday print edition. News can be found at reporternews.com.

The forecast for Wednesday called for freezing rain throughout the day. A round of sleet about 10:30 a.m. left the ground white with small ice pellets. Just afternoon, with the temperature at 28, it began to sleet again.

Those who ventured out earlier heard the tap of light rain and also sleet.

January closed with highs of 27 and 26 degrees. Precipitation was light, enough to make for dicey driving and affect travel plans at Abilene Regional Airport, but registering only a trace at the National Weather Service.

The forecast calls for more freezing rain Wednesday evening and early Thursday, turning to rain as the temperature rises above freezing for the first time since Sunday.

It will be sunny Friday, and a high of 70 forecast for Monday.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene, Wylie schools to start two hours later Thursday