Historic arctic storm brings ice and snow to Dripping Springs

“Central Texas participated in winter for the second time this season,” is the joke floating around between neighbors in Dripping Springs as they reminisce on social media about the record two inches of snow the area received just one month ago on January 10. But there’s nothing funny about the inches-thick layers of ice that lingered for multiple days last week and this week followed by a snowfall of six inches and bone-chilling temperatures in the single digits.

Or funny about the strain on utilities, electricity, emergency services or grocery stores. A historic event that led to Governor Greg Abbott issuing a statewide disaster declaration including all 254 Texas counties on Friday, Feb. 12. By Sunday, Valentine's Day, President Joe Biden issued a Federal Emergency Declaration for Texas. According to the National Weather Service, winter weather advisories or ice storm warnings occurred in 25 states, stretching over 2,000 miles from southern Texas to northern Maine.

Central Texas recorded the coldest temperature Monday since 1989 with wind chill values from -15 to 0 degrees, according to the weather service. In Dripping Springs, the wintry mix began its arrival Thursday, February 11. The morning started off with temperatures hovering around 32 degrees. By mid-afternoon the thunder began rolling in, and freezing precipitation was starting to fall, creating patches of ice along roadways. By Friday morning, conditions worsened and Dripping Springs area schools and businesses never opened their doors. Residents scrambled to prepare for the forecasted winter storm.

“H-E-B was out of eggs,” Derrick Duke said after making a trek to the only grocery in town. “The truck wasn’t able to make the delivery.” Conversations like this were frequent among residents, and then it moved from talk of store shortages to icy road conditions, stranded drivers, and dozens of vehicle accidents. On Sunday, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release pleading with residents not to drive because of the hazardous conditions making it difficult for them to perform rescue operations.

“We are receiving reports of stranded motorists who cannot be reached by either fire, EMS, or deputies due to the hazardous roadways,” the press release stated. “Every effort is being made to reach the motorists but, in some cases, it may be impossible due to the ice on the roadway.”

Then came thousands of power outages, many due to the frigid temperatures, and many due to rolling blackouts as the area’s power provider, Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC), was directed to initiate temporary, controlled service interruptions by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. The regional electric grid began operating under power emergency conditions Sunday and into Monday with the expectation to continue through at least Tuesday, Feb. 17.

At the time of press, more freezing rain was forecast for Tuesday night and into Wednesday with a slight chance of more snow Wednesday night. The Drippings Springs Independent School District cancelled school through Wednesday.

Despite the frigid weather and stress of losing power and other utilities, residents are staying optimistic. All of Central Texas, and the entire state along with many other states for that matter, is experiencing history, and that’s enough to keep a smile on faces, and “snowball fights,” resident Kari Ramseth said. Indeed, February’s powdery snow landed much softer than January’s icy mix, at least when it came to snowballs.

To view a gallery of reader-submitted photos from the arctic storm, visit drippingspringsnews.com