National Weather Service predicts Dallas-Fort Worth area could see 1-4 inches of sleet, snow mix

Residents of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex could see anywhere from 1-4 inches of sleet or a sleet and snow mix, according to current predictions from the National Weather Service.

What's happening?

A winter storm watch is in effect for the DFW area with sleet and freezing rain expected to begin Friday night. An Arctic cold front will move into the region early Friday with cold rain turning into a wintry mix in the early afternoon. Freezing rain will transition to sleet and snow from late Friday through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service's current forecasts.

Residents can expect icy roads, trees and power lines, with much of the area experiencing one-quarter to half an inch of ice. Sleet is expected to continue to accumulate Saturday into Sunday morning with totals of 2 to 5 inches forecasted for parts of the metroplex, according to the service.

Hazardous travel is expected to be at a moderate level early Saturday morning before transitioning to extreme levels by 2 p.m. Saturday, the service said. The impact severity level for travel starts at "little to none," then moves up to minor, moderate, major and extreme.

Cold temperatures are forecasted to begin overnight Friday into Saturday, with temperatures anticipated to drop as low as 3 or 6 degrees degrees Saturday night into Sunday. Along with the cold temperatures, wind chills overnight Saturday into Sunday could sit between 0 and -10 degrees in North Texas, according to the NWS.

Staying prepared

With the cold weather coming, the National Weather Service recommends residents:

• Protect outdoor pipes
• Let indoor faucets drip
• Bring pets inside
• Check on neighbors

Residents are encouraged to stay indoors and have an emergency kit ready in case of power outages.