UPDATE: Most schools reopen as remaining ice melts
Published 9:00 am Wednesday, January 28, 2026
UPDATE: East Texas is returning to normalcy after Winter Storm Fern. Most schools have reopened for Thursday instruction.
PREVIOUS REPORTING:
Cancellations/closures
Tyler ISD will be closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Bullard ISD will be closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Bishop Gorman will close on Tuesday and Wednesday. Students will complete remote learning in place of face-to-face attendance.
Chapel Hill ISD was closed Monday and Tuesday and the district will operate on a 2-hour delayed start Wednesday. Elementary: 9:40 AM; Intermediate: 9:55 AM; Junior High: 10:00 AM; High School: 10:05 AM
Whitehouse ISD is closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Arp ISD is closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Lindale ISD will be closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Winona ISD will be closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
The Brook Hill School was closed Monday and Tuesday.
Jacksonville ISD is closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
All UT Tyler University Academy charter school campuses will be closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
All UT Tyler campuses are closed and classes, including online, are canceled Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tyler Junior College sites and classes will be closed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
PAVE East Texas canceled classes again Wednesday but confirmed the nonprofit’s annual Donor Luncheon is still on as scheduled at 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Willow Brook Country Club.
The East Texas Food Bank and all resource centers in Tyler, Longview, Lufkin and Texarkana were closed Monday and Tuesday and is also closed Wednesday.
Tyler Art Museum remains closed Wednesday and plans to reopen Thursday.
City of Tyler offices and facilities will reopen Wednesday.
Smith County Jury Duty is on for Wednesday.
Smith County’s offices will also reopen Wednesday.
Smith County Commissioners Court delayed its weekly meeting from Tuesday to 9:30 a.m. Thursday.
All CHRISTUS Health clinics in Northeast Texas have returned to normal operations.
All UT Health East Texas Physicians clinics and urgent care locations have returned to normal operations.
Roads
Roads are mostly clear on main roadways aside from some icy patches in shady areas and on bridges. Roads that are less-traveled or have shady areas still have ice. Caution should be used on roadways, especially until temperatures rise above freezing for a sustainable time. Melted ice can refreeze and create black ice on roadways, which is hard to see but can be dangerous.
Visit drivetexas.org for more on road conditions.
Power outages
To view the status of outages in Texas from multiple providers, visit poweroutage.us/area/state/texas . To view an Oncor outage map or report an outage, visit stormcenter.oncor.com.
Disaster declarations
The City of Tyler on Friday issued a disaster declaration. It will be in effect for seven days unless the city council extends it.
“Declaring a local disaster ahead of this storm ensures the City is prepared to respond quickly and effectively,” Mayor Don Warren said. “Our priority is keeping people safe and maintaining essential services as conditions change.”
City of Tyler departments, including Streets, Fire, Police, and Tyler Water Utilities, are actively preparing for the storm and coordinating response plans. Crews are monitoring weather conditions, staging equipment, and preparing to respond to roadway issues and emergency calls as needed.
Smith County Judge Neal Franklin on Friday afternoon also issued a disaster declaration for Smith County ahead of the winter storm expected to hit the area.
“Doing this now allows emergency management officials to respond quickly to any issues that arise during the disaster and to ask for aid when needed,” Franklin said.
The local declaration comes after Gov. Greg Abbott declared a disaster for multiple counties Thursday.
TxDOT plans to de-ice roadways as need arises in Tyler district
City of Tyler, Smith County issue disaster declarations ahead of East Texas winter storm
