Here’s the latest on the winter storm hitting North Texas. Check back for updates throughout the day, and sign up to get breaking news alerts here.

At least 25 people have been injured in vehicle crashes Monday that sent them to hospitals as road conditions deteriorated ahead of the winter storm gripping most of Texas.

Fort Worth police responded to more than two dozen major accidents before sunrise. By mid-afternoon, after waves of sleet and freezing rain started glazing over highways, hundreds more crashes kept emergency responders scrambling across North Texas. The company that operates interstate toll lanes, including along I-35W, closed them to traffic.

Conditions are expected to worsen Monday night through Wednesday morning.

The Fort Worth school district said it would follow normal dismissal times Monday but parents could pick up students early.

Fort Worth ISD, Keller, Mansfield and Eagle Mountain-Saginaw are among the districts that have already canceled school for Tuesday.

The National Weather Service has extended the winter storm warning until 12 p.m. Wednesday for all of North Texas and western Central Texas. Total accumulations of ice or sleet could be one-quarter to one-half inch, with heavier amounts in places.

“Significant impacts to travel will continue through at least early Wednesday. Elevated surfaces such as bridges and overpasses will likely be the first to become icy, slick, and hazardous as temperatures hover around or below freezing,” the weather service said.

Most major highways north of downtown Fort Worth and the Interstate 30 corridor reportedly had patches of ice and black ice, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

Nearly 550 flights were canceled out of the Metroplex as of 4 p.m.; Southwest Airlines has canceled about 12% of its normally scheduled routes across its network. And the Fort Worth Stockyards scrapped its daily cattle drive for tourists.

The National Weather Service says conditions will be most dangerous Monday night through Wednesday morning.

After ice accumulated in the region Monday, main roads might have been suitable for driving, particularly in urban areas where they are treated more often, but bridges and overpasses will likely be slick, said Matt Bishop, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.

Road conditions will decline further on Tuesday. “Tomorrow it would be even more advisable to avoid travel,” Bishop said.

The precipitation, mostly freezing rain but also sleet, begins as snow aloft. Droplets pass through warmer air and again freeze as they approach a surface.

The weather service doesn’t expect substantial outages due to downed power lines or tree damage.

In Fort Worth, there was a 30% chance of wintry mix Monday night with temperatures staying below freezing all day. Tuesday’s forecast has a 100% chance of wintry mix with a high right at freezing. Ice accumulation of 0.1 to 0.2 of an inch and up to half an inch of sleet are possible.

The ice continues Tuesday night with 80% chance of wintry mix, which should continue into Wednesday but transition to heavy rain showers. The high Wednesday should be around 36.

“Major travel impacts” are possible Tuesday and Wednesday across parts of North and Central Texas, the weather service says.

MORE: The 2021 Texas freeze killed 246 people. These tips could save your life

Weather watches and warnings

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Steve Wilson swilson@star-telegram.com

All it takes is a little ice to kill

Nearly two years ago, it was a patch of thin ice on Interstate 35W’s toll lanes in Fort Worth that caused more than 130 cars and trucks to crash in a horrific pileup that killed six people. Recently released documents say people were driving an average of 100 mph just before the February 2021 disaster.

Rescuers spoke to the Star-Telegram on the anniversary last year. By chance, one paramedic was stopped on icy I-35W when the first cars slammed into each other. Then another, and another, and another, until cars and trucks were smashed into twisted piles of metal. When the crashing stopped, it was eerily quiet. Then came the panicked cries.

Another paramedic reflected: “How many people there had Starbucks cups and wouldn’t be there if they hadn’t stopped? Whose alarms didn’t go off, so they were late leaving? A lot of those cars were still in drive and connected to Bluetooth. Some wheels were still turning. You could hear phones ringing, people calling them. Radios were still on. It was like a scene from an apocalyptic movie.”

Read more about the 2021 pileup here.

No reprieve for Tarrant County taxpayers

While school children may be getting a holiday, Tarrant County taxpayers are not.

The deadline to pay property taxes is Tuesday. The county reminded people of this on its social media pages.

“Due to impending icy conditions today and tomorrow, we urge taxpayers to make property tax payments online using our new payment portal,” the county wrote. “The Tax Code does not allow a waiver of penalty & interest due to weather conditions.”

School delays & cancellations

Multiple school districts and college campuses in North Texas closed Monday or released students early, and many have already canceled classes for Tuesday.

Here’s the latest list of school closures, delays and early releases.

Major crashes on North Texas highways

Commuters who perhaps thought the ice wasn’t coming until later Monday learned the hard way.

In Fort Worth, firefighters and police responded to almost 30 major accidents from 5:30 a.m. to 6:45 a.m. because of icy conditions on roads and highways. As of 9 a.m. Monday, Fort Worth police reported more than 150 minor and major traffic accidents in the city because of the weather.

As of 2:30 p.m. MedStar said it had responded to 102 vehicle accidents with reported injures, including 11 rollovers. Twenty-five people were taken to hospitals. The ambulance service said it responded to six hypothermia calls. Three people were taken to hospitals in serious condition.

Here’s the latest on road conditions and accidents.

Flight cancellations pile up out of DFW, Love Field

More than 500 flights to and from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field were canceled Monday morning. Southwest had canceled the most flights among airlines with 441 as of 3 p.m., or about 11% of its routes nationally.

Delays were creeping up, with 16% of flights out of DFW running behind as of 1 p.m.

MORE: Flight delayed or canceled? Here’s what the airline owes you (or doesn’t)

What to keep handy in your car

You probably shouldn’t be out driving, but in case you must: MedStar, whose paramedics have been scrambling Monday to dozens of crashes, recommends keeping an emergency kit in your vehicle.

Ice scraper? Check. Water and snacks? Just in case. Extra warm clothing? A must.

Here’s what else you should keep in the trunk.

This is a developing story. Check back throughout the day for more updates.

Star-Telegram reporters contributing: Emerson Clarridge, Domingo Ramirez Jr., Megan Cardona.