Powerful winds that swept across North Texas on Sunday forced organizers of the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington to cancel the weekend's post-race concert and temporarily shut down both directions of Interstate 35E in Denton - capping an eventful day of weather-driven disruptions across the region.
The post-race performances scheduled for Sunday as part of the Good Ranchers Concert Series were called off due to high winds. The lineup had been set to feature Grammy-winning artist T-Pain and DJ Disco Lines following the NTT INDYCAR Series race. Organizers said the decision was made out of an abundance of caution for guests, artists, and staff.
Wind gusts peaked between 40 and 50 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service, also leading officials to move the race's green flag to an earlier start time. Kyle Kirkwood won the IndyCar street race, becoming the first-ever champion of the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington. Guests who purchased VIP concert upgrades will receive refunds and will be contacted directly with additional details about the refund process.
About 30 miles north in Denton, the same winds created a dangerous situation on one of the region's busiest interstates. The Denton Police Department announced that northbound lanes of I-35E were closed at Bonnie Brae Street at about 1:42 p.m. Southbound lanes closed shortly before 2 p.m., with southbound traffic being directed to I-35W. Strong winds blew construction debris into the roadway, and the Texas Department of Transportation was notified. TxDOT has been working on improvements to the I-35E/I-35W interchange in the area.
Just before 6 p.m., the section of I-35E reopened, the Denton Police Department confirmed. No injuries or damage to vehicles were reported.
Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington also announced it would close at 7 p.m. due to high wind conditions.
The freeze warning referenced in the prompt means the overnight hours bring additional concerns. Denton County remained under a wind advisory until 1 a.m. Monday, as well as a freeze warning from 4 to 9 a.m. Monday. The National Weather Service warned of north winds from 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph, and temperatures as low as 25 degrees. Wind chills are expected to drop into the 20s during the warning period, prompting officials to urge residents to protect pipes, pets, and plants overnight.
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