Winter Storm Fern Prompts Vinton County Snow-Level Alerts, School Cancellations

The Telegram posted that "Vinton County remained under a Level 2 snow emergency as of the Jan. 29 posting" and that county roads were "hazardous due to blowing/drifting snow." The local alert comes as Winter Storm Fern pushed across much of the country, prompting school cancellations, delayed openings and emergency declarations that continue to disrupt travel and services.

Nationally, Weather.com reported that Winter Storm Fern is impacting more than 30 states and that "Some 230 million people are under a variation of winter storm or ice storm warning." The storm's sweep forced flight cancellations, emptied store shelves and led jurisdictions to treat roadways as agencies prepared for snow, ice and frigid temperatures.

In Texas, districts and colleges issued broad closures. Fox26 Houston quoted district notices saying, "Due to anticipated inclement weather, classes and activities have been canceled for Monday, January 26, 2026, out of an abundance of caution." Galveston College announced closure for Jan. 26 and that "All classes and activities are canceled" at both its main campus at 4015 Avenue Q and the Applied Technology Center at 7626 Broadway Street. Richard Milburn Academy Houston and Pasadena, Rhodes School for the Performing Arts and Royal ISD were among other institutions listed as closed; several administrators said they would decide on operations for Tuesday, January 27 on Monday afternoon.

Farther west, El Paso Times coverage documented snow and highway impacts, noting that "Snow on Sunday morning had covered parts of U.S. Highway 62/180, which connects El Paso with Carlsbad, New Mexico," and that "The highway was closed on Saturday afternoon and remained closed as of early Sunday morning in the area just east of Hueco Tanks." Most El Paso-area districts opted for two-hour delays on Monday, January 26, with specific measures such as cancelling morning Pre-K for 3-year-olds, running "school bus transportation ... two hours later than normal pick-up times," and providing breakfast on a two-hour delay in Socorro and Canutillo ISDs. Canutillo campuses committed to opening at 6 a.m. "in case any student needs to be dropped off early and needs a warm place to wait for the start of the day," a step that keeps shelter and nutrition services available for families facing cold or unreliable home heating.

Arkansas continued to see prolonged impacts from the winter system. The Arkansas Advocate reported that "Arkansas state offices and multiple school districts will be closed for the fifth day in a row Friday because of snow and ice left over from last weekend’s winter storm" and noted that "The winter weather prompted President Donald Trump to declare an emergency in Arkansas and several other states." The National Weather Service warned of the potential for "black ice" as water and slush refreeze on roadways.

Local officials and school districts have emphasized safety. Fox26 urged that "All students and employees should remain at home. Maintenance workers, grounds workers, and custodians should contact their supervisors" and added, "We encourage everyone to prioritize their safety and exercise caution when traveling." Texas Public Radio advised residents to "Please check your school or district’s website or social media channels for the most current information."

For Vinton County residents, the Level 2 emergency and hazardous county roads mean limiting travel, watching for updates from The Telegram and local schools, and leaning on community supports if heating or transportation is compromised. Several districts across the storm zone have pledged to reassess operations on Monday for the following day, so expect further announcements and plan accordingly.