Freezing rain takes out overhead power lines
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Explains what is happening and the science behind the weather
Brother, that is so true. After the Oct. 26-27 ice storm hit Oklahoma, we had no power for DAYS on end due to power lines being taken down by trees with 1/2" to 1" of ice coating them. Transformers galore too.
Yup. That's part of it. There can be many things that might kill overhead power lines. Trees overburdened by Snow/Ice. The lines themselves could have had weak points that caused them to break.
Unlike northern states that regularly see snow and ice that puts stresses on the lines, it doesn't happen nearly as often, if ever here. This can cause more failures in a situation like this, as marginal lines are stressed beyond their failure load. In places where these winter conditions are prevalent during much of the winter, those marginal lines would have probably failed piecemeal. Here, we're seeing all of the system abnormally stressed at once. In such a situation, you're going to see what are effectively multi years worth of accumulated potential failures happen all at once.
Add in solar/wind failures, difficulties in transporting fuel for conventional plants, and you're going to have pretty major issues. Rolling and hard blackouts should pretty much be expected.
At least we don't have annual rolling blackouts like they do in other parts of the country.
Freezing rain takes out overhead power lines
scroll down to Saturday summary.
Explains what is happening and the science behind the weather
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Hello.
Not sure if they changed the page, but can you clarify where to look...I see nothing on the page about “Saturday” and no science of what is happening.