Snow in Dallas is a rare phenomenon, and the snow that does fall is often light, more like minor flurries than a significant accumulation of the white powder. As such, when snow does appear in the Dallas skies, it’s usually the cause for both excitement and chaos. 

In fact, the most recent significant snow event to hit the city happened in February 2021. During this time, a winter storm dumped 5 inches of snow at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Another 5 to 6 inches of snow also fell on Dallas in March 2015. And yes, there were businesses interrupted.

“We get frost, or roads caked over in ice all the time,” Dallas resident Braulio Herrera told NBC 5 Dallas-Forth Worth. “But, actual snow just isn’t too common.” 

If you’re a new resident of the city or planning to visit during winter, here’s what you need to know about how snow affects businesses in the city. 

Changes in the Operating Hours of Dallas Businesses When It Snows

As snowfall is basically a novelty in these parts, the city pretty much shuts down because even a little snow can have huge impacts on residents. For instance, water pipes in older homes might freeze if the cold lasts long enough or trees might get damaged by ice.

Businesses often respond by delaying their opening, closing early, or suspending their operations entirely for the time being. If available, businesses can also shift their employees to working remotely. The bottom line is: How businesses respond depends upon what sector or industry they belong to. 

• Essential Services

Businesses in this sector work hand in hand with the government in providing indispensable services to the residents of Dallas. Because their workers play a vital role in keeping society operational, these businesses do what they can to help their employees get to work despite the weather. Some might allow adjusted shifts or provide shuttles or temporary housing to employees. 

• Healthcare

Many hospitals and emergency facilities roll out contingency measures during snow events in Dallas. They might provide physicians, nurses, and other personnel with arranged rides and on-site sleeping arrangements or nearby hotel stays to ensure they are adequately staffed throughout the duration of inclement weather.  

• Utility Maintenance

Dallas businesses involved in utilities, such as Oncor and Atmos Energy, ensure that they have utility maintenance crews on hand and ready when it snows. These crew members work to ensure that residents continue to have electricity even in the midst of the storm or get their power back on afterward.  

• Logistics

Logistics companies strive to ensure that the flow of goods doesn’t stop, especially during light snowfall. However, they might significantly reduce their operations or shut down temporarily during heavy snow storms that typically result in icy road conditions. 

• Media & Telecom

In an effort to deliver timely alerts and advisories, media and telecom companies remain open but with significant modifications. They might use skeleton crews or activate remote work for non-essential staff. 

• Retail & Grocery

Businesses in the retail and grocery sector either adjust their operating hours or close their doors during significant snow and ice events in Dallas. The latter especially comes into play when road conditions are deemed dangerous. If they don’t close, these businesses often open late or close early to give their staff ample time to get home safely.  

However, decisions to close or adjust hours depend on individual store assessments. Check a store’s website or social media page for real-time updates on changes in operating hours or closures. 

• Restaurants & Hospitality

Some restaurants shorten their operating hours to continue serving their patrons, but many choose to close to avoid dealing with major issues, such as pipes bursting, food spoiling, or risking the safety of their customers and employees. They might also disable app ordering to prevent lost inventory due to stranded delivery drivers.  

However, Waffle House seems to be an exception. Their locations are famous for staying open or operating normal hours even when it snows, so when they close, you can bet that the roads are highly likely to be impassable. 

• Corporate & Technology

In general, many non-essential businesses often close or shift to remote work when it snows for safety reasons. 

Major Reasons Dallas Businesses Close When It Snows

It’s a local rule of thumb for businesses in Dallas to follow the decision of the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). That is, if the DISD declares public schools will have no classes, more often than not, businesses follow suit or at least have their employees shift to remote work. 

There are several reasons why Dallas businesses follow the DISD declaration. 

Safety is a Priority

When it snows, roads can get slippery easily, so most people would rather cancel their travel plans than risk a possible accident on the way to work or other business establishments. Public transportation might also face significant delays, limited service, or suspension. 

There’s also the issue of power outages, which is common in Dallas when it snows. So, it doesn’t really make sense for non-essential businesses to operate in these conditions. 

Lack of Childcare Options

Aside from prioritizing employee and customer safety, businesses also consider that without school, many of their workers would suddenly lose their primary childcare option. This can make it hard for them to come to the office. So, no school = no need to come to the office (either no work or shift to remote work).  

Limited Equipment

Dallas and, in fact, the majority of the region employ a thaw-dependent strategy when it comes to dealing with snow and ice, relying on brine (a salt and water mixture) and sand for traction. In other words, the city simply lacks the equipment as well as the experience to handle snow, ice, and other major winter events.

The Texas Department of Public Transportation told WFAA that Dallas district, which consists of seven counties, “has more than 100 pieces of equipment—everything from snowplows to dump trucks to maintainers—that are used for scraping snow and ice during winter weather events.” However, Dallas city itself only has eight snowplows, the use of which typically focus on major thoroughfares.